Offshore workers subjected to strict health checks, says Lee

MIRI: Offshore workers are put through strict checks including twice-daily temperature screenings at rigs or platforms to guard against Covid-19, says state Transport Minister Datuk Lee Kim Shin.

Lee, who chairs the Miri Division Disaster Management Commi ee, said the state government and major oil companies had come up with strict protocols involving these workers, including 14day quarantine and screening of inbound or outbound offshore workers at je ies and airports.

“The companies are told to give priority to Sarawakians for offshore workers and if there are non-Sarawakians involved, they are required to complete the 14day quarantine period on land before they can go to the rig,” he told The Borneo Post when contacted yesterday.

Lee was asked to comment on a message being circulated via WhatsApp which claimed that a large number of offshore workers were infected by the coronavirus due to lax screening, thus turning Miri into a Covid-19 hotspot.

The message warned the public to stay away from landing sites, saying a rig in Miri waters had a confirmed Covid-19 infection two days ago and that 13 people on the same rig were evacuated a er displaying symptoms.

“These are wild, unfounded rumours and should be stopped immediately,” said Lee.

He pointed out that under the protocols, medical personnel on rigs or platforms had to perform health screenings, including taking the body temperature of each worker twice daily and prepare a medical report of the entire returning group, before they can return to shore.

“These reports must be presented to the health authorities and if anyone of them shows any symptoms while onshore, the entire group would be quarantined,” he added.

He said the protocols also included regular cleaning and disinfection of platforms, boat transfer, je y and helicopters.