KUCHING, Sept 7: The state government will continue its Covid-19 screening efforts in order to curb the spread of Covid-19 in the state, especially to identify the asymptomatic.
According to Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas, the state government is aware of the possibility that such a situation could occur, and the Sarawak Health Department (JKNS) has developed the proper procedure to address this matter.
“JKNS is conducting civilian testing, such as in construction sites, plantations, hospitals and many other places, especially for those with flu symptoms, and we will increase the screening centres for civilians, in order to confirm whether there is a case or not out there,” he said during a press conference to provide updates on the state’s Covid-19 situation in Petra Jaya, today.
Uggah pointed pointed out the state government would expand screening as wide as possible throughout the state to conduct civilian testing in order to curb the spread of Covid-19.
“We want to know whether there are undetected cases and we want to go out as wide as possible hoping that somehow if they (potentially infected individuals) do not come by themselves to the hospital because the symptoms are not showing, we will detect it early enough so that necessary early action can be taken,” he added.
On another matter, Uggah who is the chairman for the State Disaster Management Committee (SDMC), revealed that the Ministry of Local Government and Housing has issued the standard operating procedure (SOP) for hot spring operators to resume their operations.
He revealed these operators can resume their operations starting from Sept 9, with all the necessary SOP in place.
“There is an SOP for hot springs visitors, including for maps or guideline posters in the premises, such as for social distancing and physical distancing, including temperature checking, just like the normal entrance to any business premises. This should be good news to the hot springs operators,” he said.
Meanwhile, Uggah also stated that the Sarawak government would maintain the current policy of allowing visitors from Sabah and West Malaysia to enter the state.
He said the state government will review the situation from time to time.
“Apart from that, the state government is following the ruling from the federal government which does not allow visitors from 23 countries to enter Malaysia. We are also making appeal for a certain class of visitors, probably from Indonesia, and will announce the outcome of the matter in due course,” he said. — DayakDaily
