TAWAU: The government should set up more laboratories to speed up tests for Covid-19 cases especially in Tawau, says Apas assemblyman Datuk Nizam Abu Bakar.
He said that at present, the country only has 12 hospitals including one in Kota Kinabalu to handle the tests.
He said the laboratory in the state capital appeared to be unable to cope with the number of samples to be tested throughout the state.
“I have read the press statement by the director of Sabah Health Department that the reagents are depleting, causing delays over the results.
“I was also told that every sample sent to the laboratories in Kota Kinabalu also takes a long time.
"This causes concern that those who go for screening will still be able to move around,” Nizam said, adding that a person who might be positive with Covid-19 poses a danger to others.
As of yesterday, Sabah recorded 201 cases with three new cases in Tawau and the other from Kota Kinabalu.
The Health Ministry has also listed the Tawau district as a red zone for the Covid-19 pandemic, having recorded 60 cases since March 29 and one death so far.
Nizam said due to geographical location, samples from Tawau would also take a longer period to be tested although the district has the most cases.
For Tawau, he suggested that the Health Ministry and Sabah government set up a laboratory or outsource to a private facility to deal with the delay in getting results.
“The laboratory will definitely expedite the results of samples from Tawau, Lahad Datu, Kunak, Semporna and around the east coast of Sabah.
“It could reduce the burden of the laboratory in Kota Kinabalu and give a true reflection of the Covid-19 pandemic.”