KUCHING: The State Disaster Management Committee (SDMC) is increasing its efforts to detect Covid-19 positive individuals entering the state.
This came after an increase in the number of locally transmitted Covid-19 cases in Kuching and Kota Samarahan.
SDMC chairman Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas said currently, the rate of random sampling collection amongst domestic travellers arriving in the state had been increased to 10 percent.
“Those returning to the state from abroad are also required to undergo compulsory 14-day quarantine,” he told a press conference here on Monday (Jul 20).
Uggah said interstate travels were still allowed, adding that “closing the doors to the outside is not an option at the moment”.
During the press conference, Uggah also told that the statewide monitoring of standard operating procedures (SOPs) compliance would also be stricter.
“Time for us to mean business,” he said, pointing out that some people were non-compliant with the set SOPs.
He added that the committee had decided to provide screenings in areas suspected to be contaminated by Covid-19.
“These places include construction sites, plantation sites, markets, old folks’ homes and some schools in Kuching and Kota Samarahan.
“The idea is doing as many tests as we can, especially in the most sensitive areas. The most important thing is to do more extensive close contact tracing,” he explained.
