Covid-19: Stringent measures must be in place ahead of Jan 20 school reopenings, says former Sabah deputy CM

KOTA KINABALU: The government should impose stricter Covid-19 safety measures with schools reopening on Jan 20, says former deputy chief minister Datuk Christina Liew.

Liew, who is Sabah PKR chairman, said that the stringent standard operating procedures (SOPs) must be in place in view of the growing number of cases in the state.

Liew said parents have voiced the need for adequate safety precautions as many think it might not be safe to reopen schools at this point.

She said some parents felt that reopening schools could be deferred to a later date.

"Given the unprecedented devastation, we cannot afford to have a fourth wave of Covid-19 infections. If the government is going ahead with its plan to reopen schools on Jan 20, the priority should be on ensuring that our children study in a Covid-19-free environment, without the potential threat of creating new clusters," she said.

Liew said that full compliance with the health guidelines was vital to flatten the curve.

"I am concerned about the deepening health crisis in the country despite measures to curb the spread of the pandemic. We have read reports that the nation's healthcare system was reaching breaking point due to the escalating numbers.

"If we look at the statistics, we can see a continuing daily rise in the number of Covid-19 cases in Sabah, in particular, in the wake of the Christmas and New Year celebrations," she said.

Liew, the Api Api assemblyman and Tawau MP, was speaking after handing out school bags to children here.

"It's one thing to establish SOPs for Covid-19 but it's another to enforce the procedures effectively so that we can succeed in flattening the curve," she said.

Sabah reported record high daily new cases at 493 on Thursday (Jan 7) since the beginning of the New Year, according to state Covid-19 matters spokesman Datuk Seri Masidi Manjun.