The state government has submitted a proposal to the National Security Council (MKN) on upgrading facilities at hospitals in Bau, Serian, Sri Aman, Betong, Sarikei, Kapit, and Limbang to enable them to treat Covid-19 patients.
Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas said this was proposed upon learning from Sabah’s acute Covid-19 situation now, where one of the key issues was insufficient hospital facilities.
“We have also presented to MKN for Sarawak’s Covid-19 testing capacity to be increased to 5,000 a day,” he said, adding that the current daily testing capacity was 2,400.
He said at the state’s current daily testing capacity, results could take two to three days.
“For Limbang and Lawas, it can take as many as four to five days as the samples need to be brought to Miri,” he said in response to a question from Dr Hazland Hipni (PBB-Demak Laut) during the DUN sitting on Tuesday (Nov 10).
He said the state government had approved an allocation for the construction of a medical molecular laboratory at Limbang Hospital.
“This is being implemented now and we hope that the capacity of 200 tests per day can be achieved.”
Uggah, who is also Sarawak Disaster Management Committee chairman, said once the facility in Limbang was completed, samples from Limbang and Lawas need not be taken to Miri for analysis.
He said the State Health Department (JKNS) had been given a KPI of obtaining results within 24 hours.
“If possible – within 12 hours because if the results take a long time, more issues could arise if the case is found to be positive.”
