Virtual CACs to be set up in Kuching, Bintulu, Miri and Sibu – Khairy

KUCHING: The Health Ministry will set up virtual Covid-19 Assessment Centres (CACs) in Kuching, Bintulu, Miri and Sibu where internet connectivity is available to cut down on visits to physical CACs, said Health Ministry Khairy Jamaluddin.

He said his ministry will also issue digital Home Surveillance Order (HSO) to instruct Covid-19 positive cases to stay at home.

“If you don’t stay at home, we will know. This is because your (MySejahtera) status is red. When you check in, we know and we will inform the police.

“If you have been issued an

HSO, your (MySejahtera) status is red. You go and check in at a restaurant, we know who you are. And we have told the police that we will give them your details,” he told a press conference a er a meeting with the State Disaster Management Commi ee (SDMC) at Wisma Bapa Malaysia here yesterday.

Khairy said with the digital HSOs, they hoped the public will continue practising high compliance so as to break the chain of Covid-19 transmission.

He urged all to play their role in reducing transmissions in Sarawak by ge ing tested, and to self-isolate if tested positive.

Presently, he said the ministry’s policy is to conduct RTK-Antigen test on those with symptoms and if tested positive, the case will be isolated and HSOs will be issued to the case’s close contact and family members.

“It is very important that we inform the people especially in Sarawak, when you have Covid-19 symptoms, get RTKAntigen test, if positive, isolate yourself.

“If you cannot isolate at home, then go to the PKRC (low-risk Covid-19 treatment centre) under the ministry,” he added.

Khairy asserted that the most effective means to cut virus transmissions is through community empowerment – that people with symptoms get themselves tested quickly and go into isolation if they are tested positive.

He said the community must be educated to assume responsibility to reduce virus transmissions.

“The first line of defence against Covid-19 now is yourself. The moment you have symptoms, get tested, and if positive, isolate yourself.

Early detection of cases to cut transmissions must start from all, then we will get the case numbers down.”

Meanwhile, SDMC chairman Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas said the commi ee raised several issues during the meeting, with most of the issues considered se led.

“It is one of the most fruitful meetings with the Ministry of Health. I am confident with cooperation between federal and state governments, we can fight Covid-19 in Sarawak,” the deputy chief minister said.

Uggah also appealed to all in the state to play their role in ensuring that they and their families stay healthy amid the pandemic.

He said it is pivotal for the community to comply with the standard operating procedures (SOPs) not because they are worried about being fined, but that they value their health and lives.

“If you have symptoms, do not hesitate to see a doctor immediately. With the cooperation of all with SDMC, Sarawak will be able to go through this war (against Covid19),” he added.