Health Dept urged to release more details on Covid-19
KOTA KINABALU: Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) Central Youth Movement leader Sim Fui has urged the Sabah Health Department to release more details on the Covid-19 update, especially information about the places previously visited by new confirmed Covid-19 patients to alleviate the concern of the public who live in the same area as the patients.
Sim said the Health Department had stated that a new positive case was detected in Luyang two days ago but no details were provided.
“With no further information provided, Luyang residents have been left wondering when and where the patient contracted the coronavirus and the individual’s address.
“This has created more speculation and anxiety among the public.”
He said the public have had doubts about the Covid-19 statistics released by the health authority.
Whenever there was a new positive case detected, he said the Health Department would inform the public that they were tracking the source of infection but never really provided the outcome of their investigation.
“The people have the right to know where the virus is transmitted so they could avoid the place.
“If the Health Department could provide more details, the people could take the necessary precautions.”
Sim added that the health authority had repeatedly reminded the people to abide by the standard operating procedures (SOPs), avoid crowded places and practise good personal hygiene.
“But do these measures help ease the people’s concern towards Covid-19?
“People worry because of the unknown.”
He said most businesses have resumed operation during this Recovery Movement Control Order (RMCO) phase and more people were out and about in public, which made it harder to take precautions against Covid-19.
He also wanted to know whether the MySejahtera and Sabah Trace smartphone application introduced by the Federal and State Governments respectively provided the same information to users.
In addition, Sim said Luyang assemblyman Phoong Jin Zhe had responded to netizens on Facebook that he was unable to obtain more information from the Health Department about the Covid-19 patient in Luyang.
He said the Health Department should work together with assemblymen or local leaders to trace the source of the infection and ensure the leaders were equipped with first-hand information to implement preventive measures.
He reiterated that the authority should not keep the people in the dark because the public have a right to know the truth.
He pointed out that every business outlet required customers to jot down their contact details and body temperature before they entered the premises, but how many were actually notified to go for Covid-19 screening or undergo self-quarantine because a Covid-19 patient had previously visited the place they went to?
“No one knows whether these SOPs were effective unless the Health Department releases the details.”
Sim hoped that the Health Department would empathize with the public.
“Fighting against Covid-19 requires the concerted effort of every citizen.
“Transparency is crucial when it comes to releasing the statistics to the public in order for the public to take the necessary precautions.”