Entry into Sarawak reviewed to stop virus variant
KUCHING: In view of the high risk of transmission of a variant of concern (VOC) — the Delta B.1.617.2 variant — into Sarawak, the Sarawak Disaster Management Committee (SDMC) and the State Health Department (JKNS) have reviewed the entry procedures into the state from overseas and other states in the country. SDMC said it agreed […]
Masing calls for tighter border control
KUCHING: Sarawak will increase the security of its borders to prevent the spread of the new Covid-19 variants into the state. This was said by Deputy Chief Minister Tan Sri Datuk Amar Dr James Jemut Masing who said that hundreds of jalan tikus (rat trails) were used by illegal immigrants who were deported to come […]
Mandatory 14-day isolation to prevent variants from creeping in
KUCHING: One of the reasons that Sarawak insists on a 14-day quarantine for those entering the state irrespective of vaccination status is that even if one may have a ‘vaccination passport’, it is not the same as having immunity or an infection-free guarantee. Local Government and Housing Minister Datuk Seri Dr Sim Kui Hian explained that such a policy was implementable by the state due to Sarawak’s immigration autonomy. “Despite the inconveniences, heartache, and hardships, it is to prevent variants from spreading into Sarawak. “When it comes to (the) virus, we must implement policies like a country,” he said in a Facebook post on Tuesday (June 1). The Sarawak Disaster Management Committee (SDMC) advisor said one of the reasons for rolling out vaccinations as fast as possible was to prevent Covid-19 mutations and the formation of variants. He stressed that what is needed is herd immunity, not just people being registered for vaccinations. “Thanks to Sarawak’s united war efforts, the spirit of solidarity, Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (Unimas) is able to do genomic surveillance locally in Sarawak to complement the Ministry of Health’s overall Covid-19 strategies,” he said. Dr Sim said not only Sarawak but the whole of Malaysia needs to do more genomic surveillance, though there is limited expertise and only centres of excellence can perform this. “If you don’t test, you don’t find it. Blissful ignorance is not a blessing in this Covid-19 pandemic,” he said. He pointed out that some of the Covid-19 variants had implications on the vaccines and may partially contribute to the infection waves that Sarawak is facing. “We need every Sarawakian to help (guard) our air, sea, and land borders until all our neighbours have achieved vaccine herd immunity and no active variant transmissions in their local communities,” he said.
State bans travellers from India, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Nepal, Pakistan
KUCHING: Sarawak prohibits the entry of travellers who have been to India, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Nepal and Pakistan in the last 30 days effective today (May 26). The State Disaster Management Committee (SDMC) announced this in its daily Covid-19 update today. The committee said the initiative, which was taken in view of the growing concern […]
P.3 coronavirus variant detected in Sarawak
KUCHING: Sarawak Covid-19 Vaccine Advisory Group (SCoVAG) today reported the detection of a coronavirus ‘Variant of Interest’ (VOI) – the B.1.1.28.3 or P.3 variant. “This variant was first reported in the Philippines in March this year and was recently identified in import cases in the United Kingdom (UK). “The P.3 variant is characterised by two […]
Evaluating effectiveness, protection of boosters
KUCHING: Based on recent observations and development of vaccines and varying results, experts have propounded the possibility that booster doses of the Covid-19 vaccine may be needed to provide effective protection against other variants of the virus. In saying this, Sarawak Covid-19 Vaccine Advisory Group (Scovag) chairman Prof Datuk Dr Andrew Kiyu Dawie Usop said […]
Pandemic’s fourth wave: Two separate virus variants in Sarawak
KUCHING: There are at least two separate variants of SARS-COV-2 circulating in Sarawak during this current fourth wave of the pandemic. This has been shown by the investigations done by the Institute of Health and Community Medicine (IHCM), Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (Unimas) pertaining to the virus genetic code from different infected individuals thus far. IHCM […]
WHO says fabric face masks still work against virus variants
GENEVA: The World Health Organisation said Friday it had no plans to change its guidance recommending fabric face masks as new coronavirus variants spread, because the mutated strains are transmitted in the same way. Germany and Austria have made medical masks mandatory on public transport and in shops — allowing only surgical or FFP2 masks, […]
