SARAWAK today announced it has formed four task forces to sift through huge troves of data gathered on the Covid-19 pandemic in the state and draw plans on how it can better handle outbreaks.

Deputy Chief Minister Douglas Uggah said one of task forces’ role is to focus on “accelerating the flattening of the (pandemic) curve”; another to prevent and control the “next wave”; the third to draw up a “preparedness plan for the big wave”; and, the fourth will pore over all the data collected on the Covid-19 virus and analyse them.

“I want our actions to be based on science and data; we cannot deal with Covid-19 blindly,” Uggah, who chairs the state’s Disaster Management Committee, said.

Uggah has also appointed former state health director Dr Jamilah Hashim to head the task force responsible for accelerating the flattening of the curve.

Local Government and Housing Minister Dr Sim Kui Hian heads the task force to draw up the preparedness plan for the next “big wave” while the state’s leading epidemiologist, who was pulled out of retirement and drafted into the Covid-19 fight, Dr Andrew Kiyu, will head the other two remaining task forces.

Today, Sarawak detected another 15 new positive cases to bring the state’s total to 363 since the first positive case was detected on March 13. The death toll in the state is 14.

All 15 were detected in the Kuching district and they have been warded at Sarawak General Hospital (SGH). Another 119 people were placed under investigation for possible infection.

Uggah, in his first appearance at the daily Covid-19 media briefing since the end of his 14-day home quarantine, said Dr Jamilah’s team would draw up recommendations on how to accelerate the Covid-19 curve’s decline.

Dr Sim’s team will draw up plans to prevent and control “the next wave”, Uggah said.

Uggah said the team will be responsible for making suggestions on how the state should prepare to cope with any similar outbreaks in future.

“Whether small or large, we need to learn from the problems we encountered during this Covid-19 wave,” he said.

On Dr Kiyu’s team, Uggah said he is allowed to recruit “outside experts” if it helps them develop their analysis capability.

“Basically, we need to know what data is needed for analysis and immediate action can be taken based on the results of the data analysis.” 

Despite the 15 new cases reported today, Uggah said the situation in the state is under control.

This has led to the disaster committee loosening some restrictions that were imposed during the movement control order (MCO).

Construction work, road maintenance and mosquito vectoring are now allowed but restricted to twice a week with a minimum number of workers.

Added to this list are electronics and computer repair services. However, sales of electronic gadgets and equipment are still not allowed.

Uggah said the partial lifting of restrictions will see them opening for business on Wednesdays and Fridays from 7am to 7pm.

Yesterday, the state had allowed utility repair companies – water and electricity – to operate twice a week.

Other sectors allowed to operate under restricted conditions are banking and finance, manufacturing and SMEs, agricultural, hardware stores, spare parts shops, garages and car workshops. – April 14, 2020.