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KOTA KINABALU: The state capital is expected to see an increase in Covid-19 cases coming from the Kepayan prison group in the coming days, says Datuk Masidi Manjun.
The local state government and the housing minister said they anticipated this based on the current result where tests performed on inmates and Department of Prisons staff so far have yielded 60% positive results.
“If we look at the cases reported on Wednesday (October 21), Kota Kinabalu contributed only 90 positive cases out of the total of 535 new cases in Sabah.
“However, I want to warn that there is a strong possibility that the positive cases in KK will experience a sudden increase depending on the results obtained with the inmates of the Kepayan prison group.
“According to preliminary reports, almost 60% of those tested so far have tested positive.
“I must remind people that we have around 2,700 inmates in Kepayan Prison, this means that if everyone has been tested and there is a high percentage of infected, it will directly contribute to Kota Kinabalu registering high numbers.
“I made this prediction early so that we can understand (if it happens),” Masidi, who is tasked with overseeing Covid-19 affairs, said during a press conference on Wednesday.
However, Masidi assured that the Health Department is fully targeting the Kepayan Prison group and that testing is carried out aggressively not only on inmates, but also on prison staff and their families. .
Previously, an Enhanced Movement Control Order (MCO) had been imposed at Kepayan Prison and the Prison Department neighborhoods in Kampung Matambai from October 20 to November 3.
“Cases in Sabah are still high but according to the latest reports from the Department of Health, there are good signs that they are controlling the virus on the east coast of Sabah (red zone areas), but for the west coast, we are still concerned with the prison group, ”Masidi said.
On another development in response to complaints from some Internet users that help from the “food basket” had not reached them, Masidi said they can refer their situation to the Covid-19 hotline center, or to the office of the district, as the district official is the district Covid-19 disaster committee chair.
On the suggestion from the economic sector and companies that the health department send mobile teams to test their workers, Masidi said that he will forward the suggestion.
“Like I said, medical leaders stretch themselves to the limit, but that’s a good suggestion,” he said.
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