14-day compulsory quarantine for individuals entering Sabah

 

The Sabah government is enforcing a mandatory 14-day quarantine directive on individuals who enter the state effective tomorrow, May 20, in an effort to curb the spread of Covid-19.

State Local Government and Housing Minister Masidi Manjun said Sabahans, permanent residents and work pass holders residing in the state are allowed to undergo quarantines in their respective homes.

Masidi (above) said non-Sabahans are required to undergo the quarantine at designated hotels, namely 16 in Kota Kinabalu and one in Tawau at their own expenses.

“Individuals who want to come to Sabah are also required to take the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test.

“Government officers are allowed to enter Sabah provided that they have an official letter to work in the state,” he said in a statement issued in Kota Kinabalu last night.

Masidi said the state government also allowed the entry of foreign investors into the state.

However, he said, they must submit an application to obtain special permission to enter from the state government.

Masidi also announced that the Sabah Health Department detected two cases of Covid-19 involving two individuals who returned to Tawau from Labuan to celebrate Hari Raya.

He said the first case involved a married couple who returned to Ladang Abaka, Tawau, on May 7, and were confirmed positive on May 14. They had also infected nine other family members.

Masidi said the second case involved an individual who returned to Kampung Sungai Imam, Tawau, on May 8 and also visited his family in Taman Barkeley, Tawau, and was confirmed positive Covid-19 on May 16. He, too, had infected 43 other family members.

“As such, the state government has decided to tighten the standard operating procedures (SOP) for entry to Sabah,” he said.

Masidi said the state Health Department recorded 95 new Covid-19 cases yesterday, bringing the cumulative number of positive cases in the state to 59,504.

- Bernama