Sarawak deputy CM in ICU following Covid-19 infection, says report

 

Sarawak Deputy Chief Minister James Jemut Masing has reportedly been admitted to an intensive care unit at the Sarawak General Hospital following a Covid-19 infection.

“Yes, I have been confirmed Covid-19 positive today. I had a fever and cold before undergoing an RT-PCR test and confirmed positive,” Astro Awani quoted him as saying in a text message.

The report said the Baleh state assemblyperson is fully vaccinated against the disease and is currently in stable condition, but did not mention the type of vaccine received other than it being a two-dose vaccine.

James (above) also reportedly reminded the public to always comply with Covid-19 standard operating procedures and take the pandemic seriously.

“Please follow SOPs wherever you are and get vaccinated as soon as possible,” he said.

Sarawak had a headstart in the National Immunisation Program (NIP) in anticipation of a possible state election that originally needed to be held by June 7.

The state election has been postponed through a proclamation of emergency.

There are concerns that the immunity against the disease is now starting to wane, as the number of Covid-19 cases, hospitalisations, ICU admissions, and intubations began to rise since early-August.

However, the number of deaths largely remained in the single-digits each day.

Health Minister Khairy Jamaluddin announced on Sunday (Sept 26) that Covid-19 vaccine booster shots will first be rolled out in Sarawak in October.

“Sarawak will be the first state to start the booster dose programme because it was the first to complete the vaccination programme.

“One of the matters to be dealt with in the clinical guidelines is the type of vaccine to be given. We are still contemplating whether to give the same type of vaccine or a different one,” Bernama quoted him as saying.

Previously, a Health Ministry study found that Covid-19 vaccines used in the NIP reduce the risk of ICU admission by 83 percent, and death by 88 percent.

Most of the vaccines used in Sarawak are those manufactured by Sinovac (76.0 percent), which appeared to be the poorest performing vaccine in the study.

The Health Ministry is still studying whether this is due to the vaccine itself or some other factor but assured all vaccines are highly effective despite different performances between them. - Mkini