Covid-19: Sibu council chairman urges seniors to get second booster

SIBU: Senior citizens aged 60 and above are urged to receive their second booster shot as the country is seeing a wave of new Covid-19 infections with the Omicron BA.5 sub-lineage being detected.

"For senior citizens above 60 who are still debating whether or not to have the second booster, I would advise you to have it as soon as possible," said Sibu Municipal Council chairman Clarence Ting at the groundbreaking ceremony of the new Sungai Merah Market on Sunday (July 10).

Ting said he had just come back from a working visit to Singapore on July 9 where 12,000 new cases were reported daily.

The Bukit Assek Urban Renewal team for a study tour to Singapore was led Sarawak Premier Tan Seri Abang Johari Tun Openg together with Deputy Premier Datuk Seri Dr Sim Kui Hian, Nangka assemblyman Dr Annuar Rapaee, Pelawan assemblyman Michael Tiang, and Bukit Assek assemblyman Joseph Chieng.

"Please have your second dose as it (new variant) might hit the state soon also," said Ting, adding that he had been inoculated with the second booster recently.

He added that as those coming back from outstation no longer had to undergo a 14-day quarantine period, the second booster has become more necessary.

"I have just come back from Singapore. You should stay away from me as there is now no 14-day quarantine period. If you have shaken hands with me, it is better for you to sanitise your hands now," he said in a serious tone amid laughter.