Dr Sim speaks to reporters. Seen with him is Wee. – Photo by Muhammad Rais Sanusi
KUCHING: Local Government and Housing Minister Dato Sri Dr Sim Kui Hian has advised individuals who think they have been infected with Covid-19 to go for screening at a designated government health clinic.
At present, five government health clinics here are conducting Covid-19 screening and one of them is Petra Jaya Health Clinic, which opens on weekends.
The other four are Jalan Masjid Health Clinic, Tanah Puteh Health Clinic, Batu Kawa Health Clinic and Kota Sentosa Health Clinic.
“Health clinics do not open on weekends but Petra Jaya Health Clinic does now because the virus is still around, it opens just in case tests are required.
“We urge those who are exposed to step forward and do not need to wait for phone calls. You play a part in contact tracing, do not say that ‘Oh, they don’t call, so I can hide’.
“There is nothing to fear. It is not a stigma. If you’re infected with the virus, it’s not because you want to get infected with it. We want you to be safe,” he said when met by reporters during a blood donation campaign at Dewan Masyarakat here today.
Dr Sim said there were cases involving Sarawakian students returning from abroad who were tested Covid-19 negative at Kuala Lumpur International Airport but tested positive for the virus when they arrived home.
He pointed out that this is why the Sarawak government had ordered these returning students to undergo quarantine at designated places rather than at their respective homes.
“We are protecting the parents because if they (students) quarantine at home, their parents ‘kena’ (may get infected). Their sons and daughters are young, maybe okay, but they are old.
“We know there is inconvenience and we are not trying to make your life difficult. It is not because we don’t love your children, we want you to be alive,” he said.
He also appealed to the business sector to strictly adhere to the standard operating procedures (SOP) or risk facing closure.
“Change your lifestyle a bit to stay alive. You only die once. This is not because of politics because the virus doesn’t care if you’re president or prime minister, whether you are poor or religious or what colour you are.”
According to Dr Sim, the Sarawak government has been paying for the costs of Covid-19 screening and accommodation provided for individuals undergoing the 14-day mandatory quarantine.
In Sarawak, he said those returning from overseas would need to take a swab test on the second day and a second test on the 10th day.
“The first test is to make sure they are safe and do not infect their families and the second test is to make sure they are safe and do not infect the community.
“It costs the government a lot of money, both Sarawak government and federal government. The federal policy is you pay your own, but Sarawak government still pays for your testing and hotel. This is for the safety of our citizens.”
Also present was Kuching South City Mayor Dato Wee Hong Seng.