KUCHING: The Ministry of Local Government and Housing Sarawak (MLGH) in collaboration with the Sarawak State Health Department will notify the public of locations, time and dates visited by Covid-19 positive cases in the state effective Wednesday (Jan 6).
Sarawak Disaster Management Committee (SDMC) chairman Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas said at the moment, the committee only announced the locations generally without mentioning the time and dates.
“After a long discussion, we have decided to announce the detailed locations visited by positive cases, the time and dates and we request those who visited the places to go for the Covid-19 tests.
“We understand this is a sensitive matter but we are adopting the approach being practised in Singapore to inform the public of the exact locations, time and dates,” he told a press conference on the daily Covid-19 update on Tuesday (Jan 5).
He said the purpose of having such standard operating procedure (SOP) was to let those who had visited a location patronised by a Covid-19 positive case know so that they would go for testing.
“This will therefore start today (Jan 5) as instructed by MLGH minister Datuk Seri Dr Seri Datuk Sim Kui Hian,” he said.
Sarawak Health Director Dr Chin Zin Hing, meanwhile, explained that the department would get MySejahtera app to inform those who had checked into places visited by Covid-19 positive cases and remind them to come forward for testing.
“They can go to the nearest clinic to get tested. And if you go to test yourself, you need to inform the nearest health clinic so that the health officers will advise you on what to do next.
“They will know your risk and whether you need to go for isolation, quarantine or repeated tests,” he said, adding a second test was still required to ensure a person was free from Covid-19.
Dr Chin added that of the 71 cases reported in the state for the past 14 days, 26 were local transmission while the rest were imported cases.
“It is hoped that everyone continues to observe the SOPs in order to curb the spread of Covid-19.
“If we are not careful and cooperative in adhering to the SOPs, the cases are expected to increase,” said Dr Chin.
Uggah revealed that the MLGH had issued a new gazette on Protection Of Public Health (Measure On Carrying Out Of Activities And Movement Of Person Within Infected Local Areas (No. 3) Order, 2021 under Protection Of Public Health Ordinance, 1999.
He said the gazette was to give power to MLGH to continue the necessary actions to curb the spread of Covid-19.
“The previous gazette ended on Dec 31 and this new gazette takes effect from Jan 1 to March 31 this year,” he said.
