KOTA KINABALU: A total of 1,933 students will return to Sabah via four flights from Kuala Lumpur and Sarawak this week, in time for Hari Raya Aidilfitri and Kaamatan celebrations.
Today, 1,027 students are expected to arrive in the state after having undergone Covid-19 test and were allowed to go home. Another 906 students will be flown home tomorrow.
On Monday, the state government had put on hold students' flights following inadequate temporary quarantine centres to house 6,796 returning students should they be asked to undergo isolation upon arrival.
In view of this, Sabah Education and Innovation Minister Datuk Dr Yusof Yacob said the federal government had agreed with the state's recommendation for all Sabah students to undergo Covid-19 sampling prior to returning home.
"This is the best way to overcome shortage and congestion of quarantine centres in Sabah because students who are tested negative for Covid-19 can continue their self-isolation at home," he said in a statement.
He noted the remaining flights for returning students would be on May 27 and 28.
Dr Yusof stressed the state government would be firm in ensuring that returning students strictly follow the standard operating procedure (SOP) set by the Sabah Health Department (JKNS) following five positive coronavirus cases found among varsity students.
Yesterday, Sabah confirmed six new infections, bringing the tally to 337. The new cases were recorded in Kota Kinabalu (4), Kinabatangan (1), and Tuaran (1).
State health director Datuk Dr Chrstinas Rundi said the four new infections in Kota Kinabalu were categorised as "import cases" after the virus was detected from samples taken at Kota Kinabalu international entry point.
"Two cases live in Selangor, while the other two (coronavirus patients) live in Johor. They have been warded at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital on May 18, for further treatment.
"For the Tuaran case, it involves a patient who was referred to the Tuaran Hospital and later confirmed to have Covid-19 after being placed at Queen Elizabeth Hospital," she said.
Dr Rundi noted the Kinabatangan case involved an individual who had a contact with a previous positive case, adding both patients were living in the same house.