By Adrian Lim
MIRI, March 15: At least 609 Sarawakians have been identified as the participants of the recent “Itjimak” gathering at the Sri Petaling mosque in Kuala Lumpur as of today.
However, State Disaster Management Committee chairman Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas noted that the actual number of Sarawakians attending the gathering has yet to be determined.
He was speaking to the media after attending a close door briefing on the novel Coronavirus (Covid-19) situation in Miri Division here today.
“We will look at the health declaration forms collected from passengers flying to the state between March 2 to 5.
“For Miri alone, I have been told that some 74 of them had turned up at the hospital here.
“I have now been given a figure of 102 participants (from Miri alone).
“So I hope those who have yet to report themselves to the divisional health department or hospital will do so immediately.
“This is very crucial for their own health and society at large as the Covid-19 is a deadly sickness,” he said.
On the Covid-19 situation in Miri, Uggah said it had eight positive cases while Limbang had two and Lawas one.
“We have 24 Person Under Investigation (PUI) cases.
“Twelve are now housed at the Petronas Sports Village which is designated as a mass quarantine centre for the division,” he added.
On Miri Hospital’s preparations to face Covid-19 he said it is prepared to face the situation.
“It has the personnel and the equipment and thus the capacity to handle things.
“But we are also discussing with the private hospitals to see how we can best co-operate on overcoming this common adversary.
“I would like to assure the people in Miri and in the state that we want to provide the best for them,” he asserted.
On the Petronas Sports Village quarantine centre which begun operation on March 13, Uggah said only those without serious symptoms would be placed there.
He disclosed that the place would be well guarded to ensure those quarantined remained there for the full duration of their quarantine period.
Uggah also disclosed that the place would be off-limit to others.
He added that security would be the same for those quarantined at the Public Health College in Sentosa in Kuching although it is in the Seventh Mile town area.
Meanwhile, Uggah called on the public to abide by the directives given by the Health Ministry.
He also urged Sarawakians attending the Borneo Ultra Trial Run event in Kota Kinabalu to report themselves to their nearest health department upon their return for screening.
He said this is very important as Sabah had even more Covid-19 positive cases than Sarawak.
Accompanied Uggah were Housing and Local Government Minister Datuk Seri Dr Sim Kui Hian, Minister of Transport Datuk Lee Khim Shin, Assistant Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture Datuk Sebastian Ting, Telang Usan assemblyman Dennis Ngau, deputy state secretary Datu Ik Pahon Joyik, state health department director Dr Chin Zin Hing and state security and enforcement unit director Datuk Dr Chai Khin Chung. — DayakDaily
