KUCHING: Sarawak will discuss with Putrajaya new measures to manage Covid-19 as the virus becomes endemic in the state, says Datuk Seri Dr Sim Kui Hian.

       The state Local Government and Housing Minister, who oversees public health, said this would include matters like vaccinating children aged below 12 and increasing self-testing among the public.

       "Sarawak is the first state which will transition to living with the virus. As we are the first, there are things for which the rules are not set yet and we have to figure out what are the best measures for us.

       "Because health is a Federal matter, we want to work together with Putrajaya. (Health Minister) Khairy Jamaluddin wants to come next week so that we can discuss a number of things," he told reporters after observing school students getting their Covid-19 vaccination at SJK Chung Hua Pending here on Thursday (Sept 9).

       Dr Sim said approval for vaccinating children younger than 12 years would need to be discussed, now that the Federal Government had approved inoculating those aged 12 to 17 years.

       "We need medical experts to tell us which vaccine is safe to use (for those below 12)," he said.

       He said self-testing measures should also be put in place in order to track and reduce local community transmission.

       "We need to discuss how often and who should do self-testing, such as whether everyone at a workplace has to do it.

       "All this needs to be discussed because the situation is evolving," he said.

       Dr Sim also noted that as Sarawak moved into the endemic phase following its high vaccination rate, it was important to continue adhering to SOP like double masking and hand hygiene.

       He said this was because the Delta variant, which has emerged as the dominant variant in the state, had a high viral load.

       "That's why we wear double masks and face shields and keep washing hands, in order to decrease the viral load," he said.

       In addition, Dr Sim said the high vaccination rate meant that although Sarawak's daily case figures were high, the severity of the disease and number of deaths had decreased.

       "Vaccination is important because it decreases the severity if you happen to catch Covid-19 as well as deaths.

       "That's why in Sarawak we see a lot of cases in Categories 1 to 3 (which are less severe) although our numbers are high," he said.