By Jaythaleela K
MIRI, 24 Nov: This division’s Covid-19 testing capacity has received a timely boost after Samling Group of Companies presented a second polymerase chain reaction (PCR) machine to Miri Hospital today.
“This is the second PCR machine donated by Samling after the first one in April to Miri Hospital’s PCR lab which was set up and operational end of April this year,” revealed Minister of Transport Datuk Lee Kim Shin when met after witnessing the handover at Samling’s office at Jalan Brighton here.
He added, currently the Miri Hospital laboratory is conducting Covid-19 rt-PCR tests for the Northern Region which includes Miri, Subis, Beluru, Marudi, Telang Usan, Limbang and Lawas with a daily capacity of approximately 200 tests.
“Since the PCR lab was set up back in April 2020 until now, a total of 42,291 swabs and rt-PCR tests have been performed for individuals of various categories in Miri division,” he explained.
The categories are travellers (35,289 tests or 83 per cent of overall tests); plantation sector (2,392 tests or 6 per cent); Miri Prison inmates and personnel (1,104 tests or three per cent); construction sector ( 647 tests or two per cent); Immigration Detention Depot (894 tests or two per cent); close contacts and symptomatic surveillance (1,158 tests or three per cent); military personnel (417 tests or one per cent); market hawker (166 tests or 0.4 per cent); fishermen (118 tests or 0.3 per cent) and reflexology and spa (106 tests or 0.3 per cent).
Lee who is also the Miri Divisional Disaster Management Committee (MDDC) minister-in-charged reminded members of the public to be always vigilant and 5o continue to practice avoidance of 3C (Crowded, Confined and Close Conversation) and adopt 3W (Wash, Wear and Warn) strategies advocated by the Ministry of Health Malaysia to prevent the spread of Covid-19. — DayakDaily
