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PUTRAJAYA: Despite the growing number of Covid-19 cases in Sabah, the Health Ministry says there is no need to postpone the state elections scheduled for Saturday (September 26).
Chief Health Officer Tan Sri Dr. Noor Hisham Abdullah (Photo) He said the situation in Sabah was under control and steps had been taken to contain the outbreak.
“So far we have been observing and monitoring (the situation in Sabah) and we believe that we can contain and mitigate the whole situation.
“The judgment of the Ministry of Health is that the situation in the state is under control.
“Most importantly, everyone, whether front-line people or members of the public, must adhere to standard operating procedures so that we can break the chain of infections,” Dr. Noor Hisham said at the ministry’s press conference. here on Tuesday (September 22).
Previously, Dr. Noor Hisham announced 82 new cases of Covid-19 in the country, 60 of them coming from Sabah alone.
For the purposes of the election, Dr. Noor Hisham said that those who are positive cases will not be able to cast their vote.
“Their infectivity rate is very high and they have to be quarantined in the hospital. If we were to allow the voting to take place in the hospitals, we would first have to publish it as a voting center. Until now, none of the hospitals have been published as such.
“For people under investigation (PUI) who are under quarantine order, we will give them time off to vote. However, this is only possible if they are close to where they are supposed to vote.
“If it’s a long trip, like a plane ride, then it isn’t possible,” said Dr. Noor Hisham.
He said the ministry in Sabah had stepped up the detection of close contacts of Covid-19 patients.
It has also identified groups of people for screening, including the elderly, patients with influenza-like illness (ILI) and severe acute respiratory illness (Sari), undocumented migrants, referrals to hospitals, healthcare workers, and law enforcement officials.
“We have also prepared beds for Covid-19 patients at Lahad Datu Hospital (251 beds), Tawau Hospital (401) and Kunak Hospital (40),” said Dr. Noor Hisham.
Several training institutes and school hostels have also been assigned as quarantine centers for persons under investigation (PUI) in Tawau, Lahad Datu, Kunak and Semporna.
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