KUCHING: The State Disaster Management Committee has instructed the State Health Department to come up with quarantine standards to ensure that Covid-19 quarantine centres are safe.
Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas, said there were guidelines that needed to be complied with before people could be moved into quarantine centres in the state.
“This is to ensure that the places are fit for quarantine; have the required facilities, and are clean,” he said in a press conference streamed live on Unit Komunikasi Awam Sarawak (Ukas) yesterday.
Uggah, who chairs the committee, said quarantiners at the centres must not share rooms, bathrooms and dining areas.
“And if a place is dirty, I don’t think we should send anybody there,” he said.
He then appealed to those coming back from overseas and were wearing the QR-coded wristband to comply with the 14-day home quarantine order.
“We hope they are responsible enough to know why they are quarantined, and have proper discretion with regards to other matters related to their own health.
“Seventy per cent of Covid-19 cases in Sarawak are imported cases, so we appeal to those under quarantine to comply with the order to contain the spread of the virus,” he said.
When asked if the police would act against those who defy the quarantine order, Uggah said he hoped Sarawak would not reach that extent.
“I don’t want to say much on that. If they have to do something, I think the police will only do the most necessary.
“This quarantine is not a punishment, so we urged quarantiners to be obedient for their own good and everyone around them,” he said.
On whether Covid-19 suspects should have their names broadcast so that they come forward to get tested, Uggah said their identities were confidential.
“In lieu of that, we are mapping the spread of the pandemic to track and identify the hotspots and will continue to monitor the situation,” he said.
He added that yesterday several areas in the city were disinfected and more will get the same treatment today especially the Covid-19 red zones.
