SARAWAK has used the three Covid-19 deaths reported today to again appeal to the 204,000 or so residents in the state who have not taken their booster shots to do so immediately.

State Health Department director Dr Ooi Choo Huck, said the 57, 71 and 86 year-old women who died on Saturday were at high-risk of comorbidities and had not taken their booster shot.

The 57-year-old from Sarikei was declared dead-on-arrival, as was the 86-year-old from Samarahan.

The 71-year-old died in Sarawak General Hospital, Kuching.

“This is very clear evidence that the booster is effective in preventing people getting severe infection and death,” Ooi said in a media conference.

He added that, as the shots prevent severe infection, they reduce the chances of needing hospital treatment.

“If we all get the booster (shots) we can live with the Covid-19.”

Earlier, chairman of the state disaster management committee and deputy premier, Douglas Uggah said that even though vaccination is not 100% effective, “it is scientifically proven to reduce the severity and mortality from the disease”.

He added that if everyone in the state had their booster shots, then “we can live in a near normal condition”.

Sarawak reported 813 new cases today, but only eight in the serious clinical categories with lung infection.

Two needed breathing support, while six needed to be placed on a ventilator.

In the state’s transition towards the endemic stage and the reopening of the state’s borders, Uggah said restrictions would be gradually lifted.

He said the government “will take all the necessary precautions and plan for the most practical standard operating procedure and reasonable timeline in order to ensure that we are able to move towards the endemic stage safely”.

The state government will have to review SOPs for religious festivals, and the Ramadhan and Gawai bazaars.

Meanwhile, Uggah said travellers entering the state no longer need to apply for permission to do so, or fill in the E-health declaration form.

However, they do need to download and fill in the pre-departure form from the travellers’ icon in MySejahtera.

Uggah said travellers from outside Malaysia need to take the PCR test four days before departure to Sarawak and show proof of it.

On arrival, they will have to take the RTK antigen test before they are allowed to leave the airport. – March 21, 2022.