KOTA KINABALU: In the past two days, 18 students returning to school hostels were tested positive for Covid-19 during screening.
State Covid-19 spokesperson Datuk Seri Masidi Manjun said Sabah district health offices have been helping screen students returning to school hostels for Covid-19.
This, he added, was to prevent possible infections at hostels.
The Education Ministry has stated that students sitting for Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia and Sijil Tinggi Persekolahan Malaysia for the year 2020 were allowed to return to hostels starting Jan 16 to resume schooling on Jan 20.
"Based on the notification by the Education Ministry, students are allowed to return to hostels but must obey Standard Operating Procedures (SOP).
"All students entering hostels are required to undergo Covid-19 screening tests which is in line with the Health Ministry's initiative (of containing the infection)," he said in a press conference.
As for the teachers returning to the state, there has been no record of them testing positive for Covid-19 at the points of entry.
Masidi, who is also state Local Government and Housing minister, said this was due to the SOP requiring them to undergo tests before arrival in Sabah.
"Teachers coming back to Sabah have to do Covid-19 swab tests before continuing their journey.
"Only those whose tests are negative for Covid-19 are allowed to continue their journey back to Sabah from other states."
Yesterday, Sabah recorded 432 new Covid-19 cases with 3,799 samples pending results.