‘Compulsory screening for Malaysians entering state extended to Aug 31’

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KUCHING: Sarawak will extend the compulsory screening directive for Malaysian travellers coming from the peninsula, Sabah and Labuan until the end of the month, said Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah.

Uggah, who is Sarawak Disaster Management Committee (SDMC) chairman, said the directive was initially supposed to be carried out until Aug 14, but has been extended to Aug 31 due to ongoing Covid-19 concerns.

He said the screening is on top of the compulsory person-under-surveillance (PUS) quarantine in hotels pending the result of the travellers’ swab test.

Datuk Amar Douglas  Uggah

“Those in the essential services can apply online for exemption by filling the ‘enterSarawak’ form, or with permission letter from their employers or department heads,” he said during a press conference here yesterday.

The enterSarawak form is available at https://entersarawak.socoe.co/register.

For Malaysians from the peninsula, Sabah and Labuan going to the rural areas of the state where there are no Covid-19 screening facilities available, Uggah said they are required to undergo their PUS quarantine at designated hotels until Aug 31, and only be allowed to return home after their lab test results are negative.

Meanwhile, he said schools in Kuching, Padawan and Samarahan districts which had remained closed following a second wave of infections will be open as scheduled on Aug 17.

“We have discussed this matter in detail after considering the situation of the pandemic in these districts,” he said, adding that 213 schools were affected by the closure.

On a related note, Uggah said police on Monday issued 33 compound notices to those violating the standard operating procedures (SOP).

He said 17 compounds were issued in Kuching, Kota Samarahan (9), Padawan (5), Betong (1) and Sarikei (1).

At the same time, he said police also arrested five individuals for violating the SOP, comprising two Malaysians from Kuala Lumpur who tried to avoid being quarantined upon arrival at Miri Airport; two Indonesians at a cafe in Kuching; and one Indonesian at a cafe in Samarahan.