KUCHING: Sarawak will tighten up the monitoring and screening process for travellers coming into the state in efforts to prevent an outbreak of the Wuhan novel coronavirus.
Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah said the state government had purchased two thermal scanners to be installed at the Sibu and Bintulu airports, and thermal guns at the Customs, Immigration, and Quarantine Complex (CIQ).
To date, Sarawak has recorded 32 suspected coronavirus cases, with 24 tested negative while the remaining eight still pending, comprising six in Kuching and one each in Bintulu and Miri, he said.
Uggah added that testing for the novel coronavirus had been conducted at the Sarawak General Hospital here following the purchase of blood test kits.
“At such, we can get the result within 24 hours to 48 hours. We will only send the samples to Kuala Lumpur if there is a need,” he told reporters after chairing a state disaster management committee meeting at Wisma Bapa here today.
Uggah said those suspected with coronavirus in the state are currently quarantined at the hospital, which can also accommodate a bigger group of people.
The Public Health College Kota Sentosa will be used as quarantine centre if the need arises, he added.
“I hope we won’t need to use it, but we need to be prepared nevertheless,” he said.
Uggah, who is also the committee chairman, reiterated that Sarawakians and foreigners with special permits such as employment passes, student passes or long social passes, who have returned from China, are advised to quarantine themselves at home for 14 days.
The committee would come up with a mechanism to conduct checks on those undergoing self-quarantine at home.
Sarawak had barred a total of 16 people, comprising 13 Chinese nationals, two from Hong Kong and one Indonesian, from entering since Feb 1.