Media practitioners urged to practise social distancing when covering events – Uggah

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Uggah scans a QR code with his phone as he checks in at Aeon Mall today with the COVIDTrace app that was developed by the state government. – Photo by Muhammad Rais Sanusi

KUCHING: Sarawak Disaster Management Committee (SDMC) chairman Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas urges media practitioners to practise social distancing when covering events from now on.

The Deputy Chief Minister had observed that media practitioners, in particular reporters and photographers, were not practising social distancing during functions that he officiated and attended during the Covid-19 pandemic.

“Members of the media should come up with some mechanism in order to comply with the social distancing rule. Work it out among yourself on how to do it,” he said when speaking to reporters today after visiting Aeon Mall to check to level of usage of the COVIDTrace app implemented by the mall.

Even though the issue may seem trivial to some, Uggah pointed out that Covid-19 could spread rapidly again in the sate especially if people were not careful.

On his working visit, Uggah said that he was satisfied with the steps taken by the mall in ensuring that its visitors were scanned and checked before being allowed to enter.

“I am also satisfied with the steps taken by the mall’s outlets that I have visited in complying with the government’s standard operating procedure (SOP) in combating the spread of Covid-19 virus too,” he said.

Accompanying Uggah today were Local Government and Housing Minister Dato Sri Dr Sim Kui Hian and Kuching South City Council (MBKS) mayor Dato Wee Hong Seng.

Meanwhile, Kuching Division Journalists Association president Jacqueline Radoi David when contacted today agreed that journalists should comply with social distancing rules when on duty and covering functions.

“We also have guidelines for media practitioners to follow when covering functions or events during the time of the Covid-19 pandemic and all media practitioners should follow them. It is for their own good,” said Jacqueline.

Jacqueline also said that there was a need for media practitioners to realise that no one was free from the threat of Covid-19 including themselves and they should be careful when performing their duties.