By Adrian Lim
KUCHING, Apr 18: Three Sarawakians who have returned to the state recently and classified as persons under surveillance (PUS) have been found to be positive for novel coronavirus (Covid-19).
The information was revealed by State Disaster Management Committee (SDMC) chairman Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas during a press conference here today.
“We have detected three positive cases of Covid-19 from returning Sarawakians as all of them have registered at the respective quarantine centre where we have placed them.
“Out of the three cases, one was detected in Kuching where the person has a history of travel to the US over the last 14 days before the person arrived back to Sarawak.
“As for the other two cases, they were detected in Miri while one of them has a history of travel to Singapore and the other was coming back from Kuala Lumpur.
“At the moment, all of them are being treated at the government hospitals,” he told the press during a press conference at Wisma Bapa Malaysia today.
At the same time, Uggah who is deputy chief minister revealed that there were also an additional 145 people who have returned to Sarawak either from Peninsular Malaysia, Sabah or Labuan yesterday.
He stated that all of them had been placed as PUS at the respective hotels provided by the state government.
To date, 1.438 Sarawakians who have returned from overseas, Peninsular Malaysia, Sabah or Labuan stood at 1,438 people.
Going forward, Uggah disclosed that starting from April 20, all Sarawakians who are coming back to Sarawak either from Peninsula Malaysia, Sabah or Labuan will be required to be quarantined at their home for 14 days and be monitored by the Ministry of Health.
For those who do not have places to stay, he pointed out that they will be placed at the respective quarantine centres provided by the state government.
As for those returning from overseas, Uggah said they will be quarantined at the respective centres upon their arrival.
He asserted that overseas Sarawakians returning to Malaysia and who have completed their quarantine period of 14 days in Peninsular Malaysia will be issued a stay home notice.
In addition, Sarawakians who want to travel between one district and another district either through land, air or sea must obtain prior permits from the police before embarking on their trips.
Thus, he advised them to seek the documentation from the police station before booking their tickets.
According to Uggah, Sarawak recorded an additional six cases of Covid-19 with no casualty reported today.
He added all the six cases were from Kuching and currently being treated at the Sarawak General Hospital (SGH).
Furthermore, Uggah disclosed that there were also 135 new cases of persons under investigation (PUI).
On another note, he stated that there were also two recovery cases from Kuchin, bringing the cumulative number of patients discharged in Sarawak to 57.
Out of the 57 patients, 32 patients were treated in SGH, 13 patients in Sibu Hospital, nine in Miri Hospital and three in Bintulu Hospital.
In the meantime, Uggah said there were 304 positive Covid-19 cases in Kuching.
The patients are being treated at the SGH, Youth and Sports Complex and at the Ministry of Health Training Centre at 13th Mile.
At the same time, Uggah stated that four Covid-19 patients who are being treated at SGH still required the assistance of ventilator as compared to five previously. —DayakDaily
