COVID-19 | DAP Klang MP Charles Santiago has urged the government to reduce the cost of coronavirus tests to RM50 from RM150 for residents in areas hit by Covid-19.
In a letter to Health Minister Dr Adham Baba yesterday, Charles pointed out that residents in Klang are starting to panic as more areas are turning into Covid-19 red zones and they worry about their safety and that of their family members.
"My office received information that Covid-19 hit a few residential areas, but questions were raised as to why no screening was provided for the people who reside in the neighbourhoods or in the nearby residential areas.
"Moreover, residents found they have to pay RM150 per person for Covid-19 screening at the hospital or public health clinics.
"As such, I applied to the Ministry of Health and Ministry of Finance to consider reducing the cost of Covid screening to RM50 from RM150 for residents who reside in infected areas," he said in the letter to the minister.
Charles said reducing the cost to encourage testing could help ensure the safety of the residents, reduce their risk of being infected and alleviate the financial burden of Covid screening.
Klang was the first area in Selangor placed under conditional movement control order (CMCO) on Oct 9, in the third Covid-19 wave.
On Oct 14, Putrajaya imposed CMCO on the whole of Selangor, Kuala Lumpur, Putrajaya and Sabah.
As of noon yesterday, the country recorded 23,804 Covid cases, 204 deaths, and active cases breached the 8,000 mark for the first time.
A total of 26 health districts and 46 sub-districts across Malaysia were listed as Covid-19 red zones as of Oct 20. - Mkini
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