Covid-19 in Sabah under control, health DG assures

Health director-general Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah says the spread of Covid-19 in Sabah is under control as it is confined to two locations: the lock-up of the Lahad Datu district police headquarters and Tawau prison.

He added that the Covid-19 infections in these places were in specific locations and not within the local community.

“It was the same situation before, when 277 Covid-19 cases were reported in the Bukit Jalil immigration detention depot,” he said in a press conference in Putrajaya yesterday.

He said the index cases in the Benteng Lahad Datu cluster were two illegal immigrants who were detained and tested positive during screening.

“Detection of illegal immigrants needs to be intensified to curb their entry through ‘rat trails’ in order to curb the spread of Covid-19 to the people in Sabah,” he added.

On the upcoming election in the state, he urged those involved to comply with the SOPs.

“Whether health workers or not, all should comply with the SOPs. If we adhere to the SOPs, we can avoid getting infected (with Covid-19).

“If there is a gathering, the risk (of getting infected) will increase if there is no (physical) distancing and if people do not wear face masks or wash their hands.”

On the Sungai cluster, Noor Hisham said the 23 new cases of Covid-19 involved health workers and their family members.

“Of the total of 16 Covid-19 health staff who tested positive, one of them infected seven family members.”

Adding that the health ministry was conducting an investigation into the matter, he reminded all health workers to wear personal protective gear before examining patients.