Police called to get Labuan senior citizen screened for Covid-19

By Olivia Miwil - March 20, 2020 @ 10:08am

LABUAN: The Health Department here had to call police to help bring a 68-year-old man to undergo screening for Covid-19.

Its police chief Superintendent Muhamad Farid Ahmad said that at about 4pm yesterday, police and medical personnel had to use "minimal force" as provided under Section 15 (2) of the Prevention and Control of Infectious Disease Act 1988 to get him tested.

“The subject needed to be present at Labuan Hospital for screening tests and subsequently undergo quarantine.

“He is the father of one of the Sri Petaling tabligh attendees.

"The hospital, through investigations with the son, has confirmed that the father is a first contact as both live under the same roof,” he said in a statement.

The sexagenarian, who lives at a low-cost housing unit at Taman Mutiara Sg Bedaun here, had been told on March 17 to voluntarily come to the hospital for screening.

“Once again yesterday, the medical team went to the premises for the same purpose, but the subject refused to cooperate.

“The Labuan Health department had to call police to execute the order and job,” he said, adding that an officer and two policemen were involved.

The man was handed to the medical team for the Covid-19 test and to be quarantined at Labuan Hospital for 14 days.