KUCHING: The Sarawak Health Department reported that there has been an increase in COVID-19 cases in the state for three consecutive weeks.
Director Dr Ooi Choo Huck in a statement today said that 601 cases were recorded in Epidemiology (Epid) Week 31/2022 from July 31 to Aug 6.
“Meanwhile, a total of 930 cases reported for Epid Week 32/2022 from Aug 7 until Aug 13 while Epid Week 33/2022 from Aug 14 until Aug 20 recorded 806 cases,” he said.
The death rate remains low, at one per one million population for the last 14 days, Dr Ooi added.
According to him, the rate of ICU beds for use by COVID-19 patients as of Aug 25 is 7.2 per cent, where four patients required respiratory assistance and one patient did not require respiratory assistance.
As of Aug 25, Dr Ooi disclosed that the vaccination status for the second dose rollout is 92 per cent (1,901,805 individuals) for adults aged 18 and above.
“Teenagers aged 12 to 17 years old are about 92.8 per cent (268,359 individuals) and 89.6 per cent (256,126 individuals) among children aged five to 11 years.
“Meanwhile, the entire population of Sarawak who has received the second dose is about 85.9 per cent (2,426,406 individuals),” he said.
He added that the first booster dose rollout among those eligible is about 89.9 per cent (1,650,869 individuals).
“However, there are 185,815 individuals who are yet to receive the first booster dose of the COVID-19 vaccine.
“Whereas 35,169 individuals (7.1 per cent) who were eligible, received the second booster dose of the COVID-19 vaccine,” he said.
Therefore, the Health Department advised all members of the public to not be complacent and remain vigilant, despite the relaxation of the standard operation procedure (SOP).
The department also advised individuals who are yet to receive the vaccination to immediately register and get vaccinated for COVID-19 to reduce the spread of infection and to attend according to the appointment that has been set.
