Kota Kinabalu: The Sabah Govern-ment has decided to allow Sabahans who left to perform umrah or went overseas before Dec. 28 to serve their quarantine in the State if they test negative for Covid-19 while transiting in KLIA on their way home.
Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Mohd Noor said free RT-PCR testing would be provided via a registered doctor at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport to these Sabahans.
He said the State Government would also provide accommodation to Sabahans tested positive and would need to undergo quarantine in the federal capital.
“The Sabah Government will provide aid through the Sabah Welfare Foundation to be coordinated with the Sabah State Liaison Office in Kuala Lumpur,” Hajiji said.
However, those who left for Umrah or went overseas after Dec 28 must quarantine for seven to 10 days in Kuala Lumpur on their way home.
The quarantine costs will be borne by themselves or their umrah travel agent and if the latter, these expenses should be incorporated into their overall umrah travel costs.
He said the quarantine conditions are set by the Ministry of Health Malaysia and the State Government from time to time.
However, the entry of individuals into Sabah is subject to the conditions of the existing State authority.
Meanwhile, Sabah’s daily Covid-19 cases continued on an increasing trend since Dec. 27 and recorded 226 cases on Thursday, with a surge of 34 cases higher than Wednesday’s 192.
Sabah’s Covid-19 Spokesperson Datuk Seri Masidi Manjun said even the number of deaths went up with seven on Thursday, compared to zero on Wednesday, one case on Dec 28 (Tuesday) and two cases on Dec 27 (Monday).
He said the seven deaths comprised two in Penampang and one case each in Beaufort, Keningau, Kota Kinabalu, Kota Marudu and Tambunan.
He said the latest caseload was at 226 cases, bringing the cumulative total to 240,301 cases in Sabah.
“More districts recorded two-digit new cases with Kota Kinabalu topping the list at 46, followed by Tuaran with 37, while eight other districts recorded between 10 and 18 cases.
“Some 14 districts recorded one case and only three districts did not record any new cases.
“Tuaran and Tawau recorded a relatively high increase in new cases compared to Wednesday, with +17 cases and +14 cases respectively. Ranau was the only district to show a significant decrease with a drop of 12 cases,” he said.
Of the 226 new patients, Masidi said 221 were in Category 1 and 2, two in Category 3, one in Category 4 and also one in Category 5 while a case involving another patient is still under evaluation by Sabah Health Department.
He said all districts in Sabah recorded a non-static change in the number of positive cases with 116 and from Close Contact Screening, it can be concluded that there is still a high probability of non-compliance with SOP activities that have been outlined government.
Masidi said Sabah also recorded 111 Covid-19 patients recovered (including those discharged from hospital/PKRC) making a cumulative total of 233,398 people.
Meanwhile, he said 658 patients are receiving treatment, namely 341 people in hospitals, 314 people in the Public Quarantine and Low Risk Treatment Center (PKRC), two people in Temporary Detention Centers (PTS) / Prison and one in a private facility.
He said 37 patients in need of critical care including 32 in ICU/repurposed critical care as well as five in open ward (HDW/acute cubicle) and another 12 people need ventilated breathing aids.
While, he said 19 patients who have not completed their vaccinations are in stage four and five.
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