BINTULU, June 5: A smelting plant at Samalaju industrial area has been ordered close for 14 days beginning yesterday after more than 100 workers tested positive for Covid-19.
Following this, the positive cases comprising locals and foreign workers have been placed under quarantine at two workers’ quarters blocks and Covid-19 testing will be carried out in stages involving all employees of the plant.
Bintulu MP Dato Sri Tiong King Sing pointed out that a Quarantine and Low-Risk Treatment Centre (PKRC) will be set up in the area to provide treatment and medication to the infected workers.
“The patients will undergo quarantine at the PKRC and those with high risks and experiencing serious symptoms will be referred to Bintulu Hospital.
“This is because the travel distance which would take almost two hours for a return trip,” he told Sarawak Public Communications Unit (Ukas) when met while visiting the area yesterday.
Tiong emphasised that the Bintulu Divisional Disaster Management Committee (Bintulu DDMC) is taking this issue very seriously and will not hesitate to take harsh action on the smelting plant management.
This matter has been referred to the Ministry of Local Government and Housing for further action.
Bintulu Division Health officers Dr Melvin Chung, Bintulu Hospital deputy director Dr Sivashunmugam Sangaran and Public Works Department Divisional engineer Law Pit Hwa were present. — DayakDaily
