KUCHING: The Ministry of Health (MOH) has approved 12 private health facilities to conduct Covid-19 screening in the state.
State Disaster Management Committee (SDMC) chairman Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas said this when delivering SDMC’s daily Covid-19 update on Monday (Aug 24).
The 12 private health facilities are Borneo Medical Centre, Kuching Specialist Hospital, Normah Medical Specialist Centre and Timberland Medical Centre in Kuching; Klinik Kotaraya Samarahan in Kota Samarahan; Rejang Medical Centre and PMG Medical Centre in Sibu; Bintulu Medical Centre and Columbia Asia Hospital in Bintulu; Borneo Medical Centre, KPJ Miri Specialist Hospital and Columbia Asia Hospital in Miri.
“To date, 22 health facilities throughout the Sarawak have taken 1,954 samples for Covid-19 testing among Influenza-Like Illness (ILI) cases from April to August.
“Out of that number, one positive sample was detected in Sibu (0.05%) in April, while 1945 samples were negative and eight samples are still awaiting laboratory test results,” he said
On the surveillance of respiratory symptoms, Uggah said five MOH health clinics in Kuching were identified to conduct testing starting on July 20.
“A total of 361 samples was taken for the Covid-19 (RT-PCR) test. 358 samples were negative Covid-19 while three are still awaiting laboratory results,” he added.
Uggah said random screening tests were also conducted at 155 construction sites; they comprised 11 sites in Kota Samarahan, five in Serian, four in Sri Aman, seven in Betong, six in Sarikei, four each in Sibu and Kapit, 16 in Mukah, 33 in Bintulu, 59 in Miri and six in Limbang.
“A total of 1,448 samples for the Covid-19 (RT-PCR) test was taken and of the total samples, 1037 were from Malaysian citizens and 411 from permitted foreign immigrants.
“The results of the screening found one positive sample from a construction site in Samarahan District, 1,443 samples were negative while four more samples are still awaiting laboratory results.
“Random screening was also conducted at 86 farms with seven located in Lundu, 14 in Sri Aman, nine each in Mukah and Bintulu, 10 in Betong and 37 in Miri.
“A total of 848 samples was taken; 404 samples were from Malaysian citizens and 444 samples were from permitted foreign immigrants. Of the total, 715 samples were negative for Covid-19, while another 133 samples are still awaiting laboratory test results,” he said.
