KUCHING, Jan 11: Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah today refuted rumours that the State Disaster Management Committee (SDMC) is placing Covid-19 positive individuals in quarantine in longhouses.
According to Uggah, those who are quarantined in longhouses are local villagers awaiting their screen test results.
“I want to make clear one thing, about (rumours of) positive cases being quarantined in the longhouses by SDMC, which is also fake news. We don’t want to bring them to Sibu (for the quarantine), as it is better for them to wait and be quarantined in the longhouses, because they have their own room in the longhouse.
“We hope that they can keep within their own “bilik”, without organising any event or gathering,” he said when giving updates on the state’s Covid-19 situation during a press conference the former State Legislative Assembly (DUN) building, today.
Uggah explained that if those awaiting test results are moved to Sibu Hospital, it would pose a difficult situation as it involved a lot of movement and interaction, including all sorts of complications.
“That is the reason for us to decide for a lockdown to be conducted at the longhouses, the same as what we have done in Kampung Haji Baki previously,” he added.
At the same time, Uggah also condemned as irresponsible the actions of certain individuals sharing a photo that went viral online, purportedly showing SDMC accommodating Covid-19 patients in the Sibu Civic Centre.
“I take exception and condemn some of the irresponsible people for viraling a post saying that we are putting Covid-19 patients in Sibu Civic Centre.
“The photo was taken in a stadium in Indonesia. I do not know what they were thinking. So please, I appeal to everyone, do not create more problems as there is already enough problems (to handle),” he said.
Meanwhile, Uggah noted for those who are confirmed positive for Covid-19 in Dalat and Beluru will be brought to the nearest designated quarantine hospitals.
“For those in Beluru, if they are found positive, they will be brought to Sibu Hospital. For those in Dalat, they will be brought to Bintulu Hospital, as there is more space,” he said. — DayakDaily
