KUCHING, Feb 17: No false declaration has been detected in the health declaration forms among travellers entering the state, said Sarawak deputy chief minister Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas.
The State Disaster Management Committee chairman said the arrivals, including foreign nationals, have been truthful in filling out their health declaration forms.
“I have been told by the Immigration Department that so far, their officers have not detected any false declaration on the travelling history.
“They counter checked the declaration against the owners’ passports, and if the owners concerned had been to China recently, it will show in the passport through the China immigration stamping,” he said at committee meeting on the novel coronavirus (Covid-19) update here today.
However, Uggah regretted that certain unscrupulous people have been found selling the forms to visitors at certain entry points.
“I wish to inform all that the forms are given free,” he said, adding that the committee has distributed more than 800,000 forms.
Uggah added that the state has received three new thermal scanners from the Health Ministry. The committee will install the scanners at the Sibu and Bintulu airports, as well as the Immigration, Customs and Quarantine Complex at Sungai Tujoh.
He said two thermal scanners have been installed at the Kuching International Airport and Miri Airport.
Uggah advised local employers wanting to bring in their workers from China to inform the committee in advance, because all these workers needed to undergo a 14-day self-quarantine.
“The employers will have to provide the quarantine centre. The bottom line is any workers who has a flu must seek immediate medical attention at government hospitals.
“They should not wait for symptoms associated with Covid-19, such as fever, coughing or breathing difficulty to develop.”
He added that local events involving big group (arrivals), the event will be allowed to carry on but foreign nationals from China will not be allowed to enter until further notice.
The state Health Department has screened 8,004 arrivals as of yesterday. — DayakDaily
