Disinfection to be conducted when need arises – CM

KOTA KINABALU: The disinfection exercise in Sabah will be coordinated by the District Action Centre that is chaired by their respective District Officers, said Chief Minister Datukk Seri Shafie Apadal.

This is the same for all action that are to be carried out or implemented during the Movement Control Order (MCO) period, he said, adding that this included distribution of food assistance.

Shafie said this when asked if the state government will be conducting disinfection exercises in areas identified as Covid-19 hotspots in Sabah.

Speaking at a press conference on Monday, Shafie explained that the government has asked for assistance from the Health Department with regards to the matter.

“Disinfection will be conducted when the need arises and the Health Department has a team that is doing this and will be doing for places like schools and higher learning institutes before they re-open, community centres and houses of worship among others.

“What is important is to expand the capability to do so as Sabah is huge but we also want to avoid having too many personnel carrying out the work, as the risk of infection will be there,” he said.

He also reiterated that Malaysians wishing to travel to Sabah will need to be tested for Covid-19 at their first point of entry.

“For example someone who wants to travel to Sabah from KLIA but shows symptoms of Covid-19, the individual will be quarantined in Kuala Lumpur until a certain period of time when they are allowed to travel to Sabah.

“Malaysians travelling to Sabah who do not show any symptoms at the point of entry are allowed into the state but will be subjected to compulsory quarantine at the identified quarantine centres here as a preventive measure,” he said.