SIBU: Assistant Minister of Local Government and Housing Dr Annuar Rapaee has voiced concern over a possible rise in the number of Covid-19 cases resulting from Gawai visiting, or ngabang without compliance with the standard operating procedures (SOPs).
He was alluding to the 149 positive cases recorded in Kuching District last Saturday where more than 95 percent of the cases were family members infected during the Hari Raya Aidilfitri celebration.
He said the community should take it as a lesson to avoid visits during the upcoming Gawai celebration.
“That is an early signal to those celebrating Gawai to abide by the SOP and not to visit friends or relatives.
“We do not want to see a surge of positive Covid-19 cases after Gawai due to such practices.
“In the SOP issued by the Sarawak Disaster Management Committee (SDMC), visiting activities are not allowed during Gawai,” he said during a live stream on his Facebook page.
Dr Annuar, who is Sibu Divisional Disaster Management Committee (SDDMC) coordinator said the current situation might worsen if the people were to ignore the SOP as it would overlap with positive cases detected during the last Hari Raya Aidilfitri.
This would affect the frontline workers in hospitals that are currently overwhelmed by Covid-19 patients.
“We don’t want this to happen. So please, don’t visit during this coming Gawai festival.
“All of us have a responsibility and a role to fight this pandemic. There is no point in us pointing fingers at each other or blaming anyone. Everyone needs to practise high discipline and health hygiene,” he said.
