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Delta variant dominant strain in Kuching

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Delta variant

KUCHING: The Covid-19 Delta variant has taken over as the predominant strain in Kuching.

Sarawak Disaster Management Committee (SDMC) advisor Datuk Seri Dr Sim Kui Hian said that this was due to cases of Delta variant having landed in the state from West Malaysia and Kalimantan last month.

“Sarawak is surrounded by a tsunami of Delta (with cases reported from West Malaysia and Kalimantan, Indonesia,” he said in a Facebook post on Thursday.

He said the highly contagious Delta variant is responsible for the surge of numbers and deaths in Malaysia, due to two reasons — it is more infectious and has a longer incubation period.

“Because it (Delta variant) is more infectious, we still need to be on high alert by conducting polymerase chain reaction (PCR) tests and tracing, as well as stopping the transmission by isolating the people and the imposition of enhanced movement control order (Emco).

“This has to be done quickly, otherwise the sheer numbers of infected cases will result in the lack of intensive care unit (ICU) beds and oxygen supply,” he pointed out.

He said that 82.5 percent of the eligible Sarawak population have received the first dose of the vaccination, while 60.1 percent received both doses.

“Similar to United Kingdom (UK), it was made known that despite the increase in the number of cases around Kuching, those infected recently are in category one (no symptoms) and category two (mild symptoms).

“West Malaysia and Kalimantan are in double jeopardy as not enough people are vaccinated, thus most cases are in category three to five.

“There are also more cases because the Delta variant is more infectious,” he said. 

He added Covid-19 will continue to mutate with new variants emerging.

“We will need to continuously change to adapt and live with the virus for a while until our surroundings are under control.

“Let’s fight Covid-19 together,” said Dr Sim.

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