KUCHING: Temperature checks and physical record books are no longer relevant to detect infected individuals.
The Sarawak Disaster Management Committee (SDMC) recently announced a new COVID-19 standard operating procedures (SOPs) by the federal government to scrap temperature checks and check-in record books at premises.
However, it is still a compulsory for visitors to check in using the MySejahtera app.
Premises owners are no longer required to provide temperature scanners and check-in record books at their entrances.
While some see the importance of record book, others agreed that checking in via the MySejahtera app is ideally adequate.
New Sarawak Tribune met with a few people for their opinions.
CASSIELORINA LAZZ
(Insurance Broker)
The implementation of the new SOPs is timely. The use of the MySejahtera app is crucial to facilitate the monitoring process to curb the spread of COVID-19. Temperature checks may not be nearly beneficial at preventing the transmission of the virus. Nevertheless, premises owners still have the option to continue using temperature scanners and record books.
JONIA TEO HUI ING
(Self-employed)
Not everyone knows how to use the MySejahtera app, especially the senior citizens. Some don’t even have a phone to scan the code. Therefore, some premises still use the physical logbook to record their visitors. On the other hand, temperature checks are not necessary as no one goes out when they are sick. Some people may have flu or cough but are showing an ideal body temperature.
AFINA YIAN
(Coordinator)
I agree with the abolishment of mandatory temperature checks. It is not a serious matter because not every premises will monitor body temperatures. Sometimes the temperature scanned is not accurate, especially due to the weather. I don’t think anyone will go out if they are having fever or flu unless to the clinic. Checking in via the MySejahtera app is good enough to track the movement of the outbreak.
ELSA CORDELIA
(Postgraduate student)
Temperature checks and manual registration are now irrelevant. We already have the ‘MySJ Trace’ feature on the MySejahtera app. Most of the cases now are in Categories 1 and 2 with a few in Categories 4 and 5. Temperature checks are not very effective to detect infected individuals. However, the public must continue to practise the SOPs and conduct regular self-testing.
