KUCHING: Miri Division Disaster Management Committee (DDMC) successfully completed ‘Ops LJ’ for Covid-19 swab tests at Rumah Long Jeeh in Ulu Baram.
Sarawak Transport Minister Datuk Lee Kim Shin, who is also minister in charge of Miri DDMC, stated that the operation was conducted today.
“Ops LJ involves a medical team from the Miri Health Office, consisting of two doctors, two health inspectors and one nurse, using two helicopters each from Hornbill Skyways to bring health workers and a dedicated Medivac Layang-Layang to bring back the swab samples,” he said.
The helicopter bringing the health workers departed Miri at 9.40am.
Lee also stated that the Covid-19 swab tests were necessary in this locality following two positive cases detected at the said longhouse.
“The longhouse, consisting of five blocks, has been subjected to a lockdown order for 14 days effective Jan 26 until Feb 9.”
Before this, Miri DDMC requested the use of the Fire and Rescue Department (Bomba) helicopter to transport the health workers to the longhouse for the operation on Thursday.
However, the operation was suspended this morning due to a technical problem.
The operation was a success and ended at 4.10pm. All 53 residents of Rumah Long Jeeh were swabbed and the test samples sent to Miri Hospital for processing.
“Indeed, our operation today was very challenging because I was told that the Hornbill Skyways helicopter took 50 minutes to Long Akah for a refuel before continuing the flight for 20 minutes to Long Jeeh. The total flight time is 70 minutes.
“Returning to Miri, it takes 15 minutes to fly back to Long Akah to refuel before continuing the flight for 50 minutes. The total flight time is 65 minutes,” added Lee today.
