Many fully vaccinated infected
KOTA KINABALU: Most of the daily Covid-19 infections in Sabah this month involved those who have been fully vaccinated, including the cases reported in the last 24 hours.
In expressing his concern, Sabah Covid-19 spokesman Datuk Masidi Manjun said the public is still not following the standard operating procedures (SOPs).
Sabah recorded 497 new Covid-19 cases on Saturday with sporadic cases remaining high at 36.2 per cent of the total number.
Five deaths were reported, one each in Keningau, Kota Belud, Kota Kinabalu, Kudat and Pitas.
Masidi, who is also Local Government and Housing Minister, said sporadic cases were detected when patients experienced symptoms of Covid-19 virus infection and subsequently underwent health screening.
“These symptomatic screening cases make it difficult to determine the index case, or the place where the infection occurred.
“What is certain is that the infection occurs due to inability to comply with SOPs such as physical distancing or the use of face masks,” he said.
Masidi added that the infection statistics recorded on Saturday showed 66.8 per cent of patients were those who have completed vaccination.
“This high figure is somewhat alarming as it reflects the careless and indifferent attitude of the vast majority of those who are already fully vaccinated rather than complying with all SOPs.
“They may assume they are immune to a viral infection after completing the vaccination.
“The fact is that, they are not immune to infection. The vaccine simply protects the patient from the serious effects of Covid infection.
“This is proven by 98 per cent of cases today are only patients in Category 1 and Category 2 who do not require hospital treatment. But keep in mind that no matter in any category, a patient remains a carrier of the virus and can infect other family members at home,” he added.
According to Masidi, only eight cases are considered serious and require hospital treatment, including intensive care, with four people in Category 3, three people in Category 4 and only one person in Category 5.
Five cases are still under evaluation by the State Health Department.
Health director-general Tan Sri Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah in his daily statement said Sabah’s current Covid-19 infectivity rate (Rt) is 0.99.
The Rt (pronounced Rnaught) value refers to the level of infectivity of Covid-19 that is the number of cases that can be infected by one positive case.
What is certain is that the infection occurs due to inability to comply with SOPs such as physical distancing or the use of face masks.
— Datuk Masidi Manjun, Sabah Covid-19 spokesman
Meanwhile, State Covid-19 Immunisation Programme operations director Datuk Shahelmey Yahya said 76 general practitioner (GP) clinics and five private hospitals are offering Covid-19 booster shot services in Sabah.
He said the vaccination centre (PPV) at Sabah International Convention Centre (SICC) will only operate until the end of November.
“PPVs in schools, government hospitals and health clinics will continue providing vaccination services,” he said on Saturday.
On Friday, Masidi said the Covid-19 booster dose can be obtained for free at government medical facilities for those over 40 years old.
He said those who received their second dose of Pfizer six months ago, or three months after receiving their second dose of Sinovac are encouraged to get their booster shot at the government medical facilities or private ones appointed by the Health Ministry.