BETONG: The Covid-19 mass quarantine centre at Pusat Sumber Pembangunan Desa Layar here is almost ready.
State Disaster Management Committee chairman Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas yesterday flew in to check on the centre and the preparations by Betong Hospital to face the Covid-19 virus.
“Betong had recently eight positive Covid-19 cases. Four of the patients were from Kedah and one from Kuala Lumpur.
“Four were participants of the Sri Petaling Mosque ‘Ijtimak’ gathering and flew in here where they spent a few days moving around in Debak. The other three patients are locals,” he said in a statement.
Uggah said all the patients were admitted to Sibu Hospital. The district also had 21 persons under investigation (PUI) cases to date.
The deputy chief minister was accompanied by Betong MP Datuk Robert Lawson Chuat, Layar assemblyman Gerald Rentap Jabu and a political secretary to the Chief Minister Dr Richard Rapu. They were briefed on the preparations by Dr Johny Pangkas.
Commenting further on the quarantine centre, Uggah said it could accommodate 24 persons comfortably at any one time. He added that the centre was located far away from populated areas.
Uggah revealed there were proposals to turn Dewan Rentap and Rumah Dayak here as additional centres should the need arise. Some 210 people in the division had received the Quarantine Order.
Uggah also brought with him about 12,000 face masks which he presented to Betong hospital and Debak sub district to distribute to the frontliners.
