KUCHING: The Sarawak Disaster Management Committee (SDMC) aims to raise the state’s Covid-19 testing capacity to 5,000 per day with test results produced in less than 24 hours.
Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas said the state’s current daily testing capacity of 2,000 was a constant concern.
“We have appealed to Kuala Lumpur to assist us and I am very pleased that the prime minister has requested us to immediately present our case – especially with regard to upgrading our testing capacity,” he said at the SDMC Covid-19 update press conference today.
Uggah said the current testing capacity had been a challenge especially over the last few days in Kuching whereby there had been extensive active case detection (ACD) operations, the enhanced movement control order (EMCO) at Kampung Haji Baki, as well as voluntary screenings from the public.
“During these few days, we have had to outsource to the private sector. If we reach the (level of cases) in Sabah, we will be in serious trouble,” he said.
“Yesterday, when we had our meeting with the National Security Council (MKN), the Health Ministry (MoH) director-general himself observed that there is a need to upgrade the facilities at health centres and hospitals in Sarawak,” he added.
Uggah, who is also SDMC chairman, pointed out that there was also only one screening location for Sarawak’s Northern Region, which is in Miri.
He said that tests conducted in Lawas and Limbang had to be brought to Miri, facing issues such as limited transportation which delayed the results for a few days.
“For Limbang, Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg has approved RM1.2 million for us to build facilities there – this is now in the process of implementation,” he said.
He said there were also plans to upgrade facilities in Miri, Bintulu, Sibu, and Kuching, as well as a proposal for a screening location to be created in Betong or Sri Aman.
“We also want to upgrade our Sarawak Heart Centre here so we can reach our target of 5,000 a day as well enabling results to be ready in less than 24 hours,” he said.
Uggah said the chief minister had requested SDMC to present these matters during the MKN meeting on Saturday, adding that the paper had already been prepared by the State Health Department (JKNS).
