8 Year Old Dies Of Covid 19 In Sarawak

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An MP has called for adolescents to be vaccinated before schools are allowed to reopen. (Freepik pic)KUCHING: An eight-year-old girl was one of two people who died of Covid-19 in Sarawak today, the state disaster management committee (SDMC) said today, prompting an MP to lambast the authorities for dragging their feet over precautions for school children.
The girl, from Serian, is believed to be the youngest Covid-19 victim in Sarawak. She tested positive on Aug 21 and died at the Serian Hospital. She had no history of illnesses, the SDMC said, Borneo Post reported.
Kuching MP Kelvin Yii said the girl’s death prompted him to reiterate that all necessary reforms and precautions must be taken, including adolescent vaccination, before schools are allowed to reopen.
“We must make sure it is safe for our children, teachers, staff and others involved in the education system such as canteen operators, cleaners and bus drivers.
“The government has been dragging their feet on all these important policies,” he said in a Facebook posting, accusing the incoming education minister of being clueless about how to take the matter forward.
Sarawak health director Mohamed Sapian Mohamed said that children accounted for 30% of Covid-19 cases in the state.
He said the Delta variant had been a major factor in the high prevalence of cases in Sarawak.
Sarawak recorded another Covid-19 death today, a 59-year-old man from Sibu. “He had comorbidities of high blood pressure, diabetes, dyslipidemia, gout and chronic kidney disease,” the SDMC added.
On Friday, the SDMC said a 17-year-old boy with comorbidities had died in hospital after being found positive for Covid-19 last Wednesday. The SDMC said he had congenital disease such as chronic lung disease and epilepsy. - FMT

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