KUCHING: All close contacts of positive Covid-19 cases here who have yet to be screened are urged to come forward to undergo a health test as soon as possible.
This is the first action to be undertaken by the Sarawak Special Action Team as the state seeks to reduce the Covid-19 curve in an attempt to break the pandemic’s chain.
Sarawak Deputy Chief Minister, Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas, said for a start, the team, headed by the state’s former heath director Dr Jamilah Hashim, will detect and identify all contacts of positive cases in Kuching which has recorded the highest number of Covid-19 cases in the state.
He added that the state Health Department has identified 6,022 close contacts of positive cases which are present in the state capital.
“Of these, 3,538 have undergone screening tests, while 2,484 people have yet to come forward,” he said in a statement today.
Uggah, who is also the state Disaster Management Committee (JPBN) chairman, said all contacts who have not been through the screening will be contacted and asked to take the test.
“From tomorrow (April 20), officers from the Sarawak Health Department would get in touch with contacts who have been identified to direct them to take the next course of action.
"It is our hope that all relevant contacts would cooperate by responding to phone calls and obeying all the instructions given," he said.
Meanwhile, Uggah said another five positive Covid-19 cases were recorded in Sarawak today, with all five being treated at the Sarawak General Hospital.
The latest five cases take the total number of confirmed cases of Covid-19 in Sarawak to 408 since the first positive case was reported on March 13.
In addition, 99 new cases of individuals under investigation (PUI) were also reported, with 95 cases awaiting laboratory results.
"Today, seven more positive cases were cured and released from hospital, which means that a total of 64 patients have recovered," Uggah said.