KUCHING: By noon today, 814 villagers at Kampung Haji Baki had undergone their first Covid-19 screening and are awaiting the test results.
Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas was pleased with the villagers’ cooperation.
“We really appreciate that,” he told the Sarawak Disaster Management Committee (SDMC) Covid-19 update press conference today.
SDMC enforced the enhanced movement control order (EMCO) at Kampung Haji Baki at 6pm today until Nov 11.
Uggah, who visited the area earlier today, also commended the efficiency of the government departments involved in these screening efforts, including the State Health Department, Social Welfare Department and Royal Malaysian Police.
“They are all working together to ensure that the management of the EMCO at Kampung Haji Baki is smooth,” he said.
Uggah added an examination area had been prepared for residents of Kampung Haji Baki who needed their regular medication or health examinations, such as expecting mothers and those with medical issues such as high blood pressure or diabetes.
“We have also provided these services and the operation room is complete with officers and the necessary medication,” he assured.
The deputy chief minister said the Social Welfare department had also prepared food to be distributed to Kampung Haji Baki resients as they were not allowed to leave the area due to the EMCO.
“It appears that the machinery is running smoothly and efficiently. I am very happy to see all the preparation and also the cooperation of the people, especially the community leaders in the area,” said Uggah, who is also SDMC chairman.
On the Seladah Cluster in Kuching, he said the index case had moved from one construction site to another as part of her business. He revealed that the Health Department had identified these construction sites and would conduct screenings there as a pre-emptive measure to curb the spread of the virus.
“Our strategy is to test, contact-trace and cut the Covid-19 chain,” he said.
On the active case detection (ACD) operation at Galacity business centre here on Oct 26, Uggah said 278 individuals had been screened via reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) testing.
As of 12pm today, he said 277 individuals tested negative while one tested positive.
