By Olivia Miwil - November 4, 2020 @ 2:40pm
KOTA KINABALU: The outbreak of Covid-19 at the temporary detention centres (PTS) here and Tawau stemmed from detainees who developed symptoms weeks after at the facilities.
Both clusters have contributed to three-digit cases in Sabah.
According to a statement by the National Security Council (MKN), those index cases were initially tested negative and asymptomatic during first screening before being placed at the centres.
"Those detainees had been at the temporary centres for more than 14 days before displaying symptoms such as fever and cough.
"They were later checked and screening showed they were positive with Covid-19. However, the cases were still being investigated by the Sabah Health department," it said.
For the Kota Kinabalu detention centre, the case showed symptoms on Oct 29 and the other case in Tawau started to get sick on Oct 11.
As of yesterday, PTS in Kota Kinabalu has 404 positive Covid-19 cases and 106 in Tawau.
Since March, MKN has taken necessary measures by stopping visits for family members and require all new detainees to pass screening tests.
A proposal to have a quarantine centre for illegal immigrants has also been approved to ensure 14-day isolation for post-operation custody.
Following the detection of Covid-19 cases, the state Health department has been doing scheduled and targeted screenings for all personnel and detainees, as well as isolating detainees according to zones.
The screening in the state capital, however, is done in stages based on risks assessment and priority.
As for Tawau, the district health department and hospital have assessed the design of the Tawau detention Centre to prepare for treatment and quarantine.
Food aid and camp beds have also been mobilised for personnel who have been quarantined at the centres or homes.
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