PUTRAJAYA: The Health Ministry has maintained that the Covid-19 situation in Sabah remains under control despite the increasing number of clusters in the state.
Health director-general Tan Sri Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah said the ministry has been observing and monitoring the situation since the first cluster was detected.
"So far, based on the ministry's judgment and surveillance, the situation is under control. We are able to contain and mitigate the situation and most importantly, everyone including frontliners and the public must comply with the standard operating procedures (SOPs).
"If everyone complies with the SOPs, we can break and mitigate the infection chain. The SOPs must be implemented and practiced on the ground.
"We are monitoring the situation closely," he told a press conference on Covid-19 updates at the ministry today.
He was asked to comment on whether or not polling day for the Sabah election should be postponed due to the increasing number of Covid-19 clusters in the state.
Dr Noor Hisham also said he hopes the situation can be contained after the Sabah polls.
"After polling day, we will review the situation. We will continue to monitor the situation even after polling day to ensure that we can break the infection chain," he said.
Dr Noor Hisham said among the key areas of concern is the entry of foreigners into the country, especially in Sabah.
"The source (of the infection) may have been foreigners and those in prisons too. If we can control and tighten the international borders and carry out roadblocks, we can mitigate the spread of the infection.
"We are constantly working together with other agencies as well," he said.
Commenting on whether or not those who test positive and are being treated in hospital could cast their votes on polling day, Dr Noor Hisham said they are still not allowed to go out. He also said the public should not visit the patients in hospital.
Meanwhile, he said those who are undergoing quarantine are allowed to go out and cast their votes, provided the polling stations are nearby.
Asked also whether the patients can vote from hospitals, he said it would require a gazette before such measures can be implemented.