ANN/THE STAR – The Sarawak government has approved MYR4.85 million to help the Health Department’s preparations in handling the rising cases of COVID-19.
Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah said the allocation included MYR2.1 million to restock the antiviral drug Paxlovid, especially for high-risk groups with comorbidities and the elderly.
The funds would also be used to buy 800 packs of the drug, he added.
He said they want to make sure the stock of Paxlovid is sufficient as they notice the number of cases seems to rise before any festive season.
“After Christmas, we have to prepare for Chinese New Year and Hari Raya later on,” he told a press conference on the current COVID-19 situation in Sarawak yesterday.
Uggah said the state government also allocated an additional MYR2 million to construct a field hospital here to accommodate COVID-19 patients and to be used as infectious disease wards.
He said construction of the 88-bed field hospital would start in January.
In addition, Uggah said MYR300,000 was approved to replenish the stock of COVID-19 rapid test kits and MYR450,000 to set up canopies at hospital and clinic triage areas to cater for the rising number of patients.
