Concern over safety of new protocol for Covid patients

SIBU: Chairman of Sarawak United Peoples’ Party ( SUPP) Dudong branch Wong Ching Yong questions whether it is safe to introduce a new protocol to allow Covid-19 patients to observe quarantine at home after 14 days of treatment so fast and so suddenly.

“The concern is whether it is safe to introduce a new protocol solely based on studies of WHO, Singapore and South Korea.

“Doctors in Sarawak have noted that director general of Health Datuk Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah used the phrase namely “Infection is almost zero”.

“Almost zero is statistically and can be materially different from zero. As such, doctors in

Sarawak are sceptical about the safety of the new protocol,” he said, adding that the scenario in Sarawak is different from the peninsula as patients could be from the deep interior and coastal rural areas.

He added that local doctors suggested Covid-19 patients be monitored for at least another seven days as practised by Singapore. He hoped the findings of WHO, Singapore and South Korean health authorities could be shared in the website of Ministry of Health.

“We also have to continue being vigilant and practise the safe culture of hand washing and social distancing,” Wong added.