KUCHING: Malaysians, who are non-residents of Sarawak but who have been to China in the last fortnight, have been strongly advised not to visit Sarawak until their home quarantine period of 14 days is completed, and they are found to not have been infected with the novel coronavirus.
The State Disaster Management Committee (JPBN) said this in a statement yesterday, explaining that this was one of the immigration policies being enforced to ensure that the state remained coronavirus-free.
“All foreigners, irrespective of nationalities, who have been to China in the past 14 days will be refused entry into the state,” said JPBN.
They said that all Sarawakians and holders of Sarawakian PR, Work Visa, and Student Visa who had visited China in the last 14 days must undergo a compulsory home quarantine for 14 days.
“They will be subjected to random monitoring by the relevant authorities,” they added.
JPBN said that as of noon yesterday, there were no known novel coronavirus infection cases in Sarawak.
Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas, who is also JPBN chairman, during a press conference yesterday revealed that there had been a total of 32 suspected cases of Wuhan coronavirus in Sarawak as of Monday (Feb 3).
Of these, he said that 24 had tested negative while eight were pending laboratory results.
According to him, testing for coronavirus had commenced at Sarawak General Hospital (SGH) since Monday with the state’s purchase of blood test kits.
Previously, samples had to be sent to Kuala Lumpur for testing, which took more time.
