Miri forms task force for Covid-19 contact tracing of returning students

Lee (seated second from right) with Miri Disaster Management Committee chairman Abdul Aziz Mohd Yusof (on Lee's right) during their visit to the committee's Ops Room.

By Brad Rantayy

MIRI, May 27: Miri Division Disaster Management Committee has formed a task force which will focus on contact tracing for students from domestic institutions of higher learning who have returned to Miri in recent weeks.

The establishment of the task force was announced by the minister in charge of the committee Datuk Lee Kim Shin earlier today.

He said that all the returning students have been identified based on data collected upon their arrival.

He explained that these students will be contacted by task force personnel for appointments to take samples, while SMS Info-blasts will be sent to their handphones as well.

Lee reminded all students who received the phone calls and SMS Info-blast to follow the instructions by the personnel and come for the appointments.

For students from rural areas outside Miri District, it will be arranged for them to check into designated hotels.

“Swabs will be taken at the hotel and they will be discharged once the result is negative,” Lee revealed.

For further enquiries, members of the public may call the Ops Room at 085-322 229 from 8am to 5pm (Monday to Friday).

Meanwhile, a total 1,021 students returning from Peninsular Malaysia, Labuan and Sabah have been quarantined and undergone testing so far, with none testing positive for Covid-19, Lee revealed.

“Miri Division Disaster Management Committee would like to seek cooperation from all students and parents in this exercise as a prevention strategy against Covid-19,” he emphasised. — DayakDaily