KUCHING: The State Disaster Management Committee is now looking to set up more quarantine centres here.
Local Government and Housing Minister Datuk Seri Dr Sim Kui Hian said the Amiruddin Baki Education Leadership and Management Training Institute and the Inland Revenue Board (LDHN) Academy had been proposed to cope with any eventuality.
“In addition, we are also looking at the Royal Customs and Excise Academy, as well as asking Sibu, Sarikei and other districts to set up their quarantine centres.
“One of the reasons is because if there are more people coming forward (for testing) and they test positive for the virus, then we will have more places to quarantine them instead of asking them to stay at home,” he explained.
Dr Sim added that with more quarantine centres, Sarawak would also have more options like in Singapore, with every Sarawakian coming home (from abroad) placed at the designated quarantine centres.
The minister pointed out that the incubation period for the Covid-19 virus was 14 days and normally, symptoms surfaced on the seventh day.
“But from Day One to Day Three, you can still infect others and even if you are tested on Day Four and the result is negative, it still does not mean that you do not need home quarantine.
“You can be positive on Day 10, and that is why we want to set up more quarantine centres so that you are not home quarantined.
“You may not have the symptoms yet but still, you can infect others. Not only are you infecting your family but also the community and those who come in contact with,” he said.
On Monday, the committee instructed the State Health Department to come up with quarantine standards to ensure that the centres were 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 the centres.
“This is to ensure that the places are fit for quarantine, have the required facilities and are clean.
“Those quarantined 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,” the committee chairman said.
