The death toll of those infected by the coronavirus has risen to 26 and the number of cases has topped 800, most of them in Wuhan. AFP Photo
KUCHING: Local Government and Housing Minister Dato Sri Dr Sim Kui Hian is advising those who have visited China in the past two weeks to contact the relevant authorities or get themselves checked at hospitals.
This was one of precautionary steps which Dr Sim, a practising medical doctor himself, thinks could prevent the coronavirus (2019-nCoV) from entering or spreading in the state.
“Just get yourself checked at the hospital if you have visited China before and want to be sure. I hope they would understand that it is for the good of the public safety,” he said when interviewed during his Chinese New Year open house today.
Dr Sim’s main concern was that those who have contracted the coronavirus would show no symptoms in its early stages, as he explained the incubation period of the virus is two weeks.
Hence visitors who have been to China should be checked thoroughly at entry points to the state.
“We have to be vigilant in fighting the spread of the virus. Those who have contracted the virus might already be in our country as we speak,” he said.
Apart from that, in the meantime, Dr Sim also suggested that those who have visited China impose self quarantine on themselves in order to minimise the risk of spreading the virus in the state.
“I know it is not a popular thing to do for one to advise others to confine themselves especially during the Chinese New Year but for the safety of the public, I hope they would understand the seriousness of this virus,” he said.
The World Health Organisation revealed that the 2019-nCoV is a form of coronavirus.
Coronaviruses (CoV) are a large family of viruses that cause illness ranging from the common cold to more severe diseases such as Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS-CoV) and Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS-CoV).
2019-nCoV is a new strain that has not been previously identified in humans.
Common signs of infection include respiratory symptoms, fever, cough, shortness of breath and breathing difficulties. In more severe cases, infection can cause pneumonia, severe acute respiratory syndrome, kidney failure and even death.
Also present during the Dr Sim’s open house was Yang di-Pertua Negeri Tun Pehin Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud and wife Toh Puan Datuk Patinggi Ragad Kurdi Taib.