Twentytwo13

Klang Valley schools and offices tell Sabah returnees to stay home

Several schools and offices in the Klang Valley have taken proactive steps to curb the spread of Covid-19 by asking those who have returned from Sabah to stay at home for 14 days.

School administrators had blasted WhatsApp messages instructing children, whose parents voted in Sabah last Saturday, to stay at home for two weeks.

A secondary school in USJ in Subang Jaya had telephoned parents asking them if they had returned to Sabah to vote in the state elections.

Those who answered in the affirmative were then told to keep their kids at home for up to two weeks.

“I received a phone call from the school yesterday afternoon asking me to keep my daughter at home since I went back to vote,” said Florence Manson.

“However, I told them my daughter is staying with her aunt. I have not been in contact with her since I returned on Sunday.

“It was only then they said she can continue going to school. I was informed they are calling up other parents too.”

Another parent also from Subang Jaya said she received a message in her chat group.

“One of the other parents had spoken to the school to propose that children whose parents went to Sabah be kept at home.

“The school agreed and will contact those parents,” the parent, who did not wish to be named, added.

While several multinational and local companies continue to adopt work-from-home, some have now implemented a ruling to ensure their staff who returned from Sabah are not in close contact with other colleagues.

A company based in Kuala Lumpur sent out emails to its staff that read: “Employees who have been in close contact with any person who have just returned from Sabah or may have recently visited Sabah, please do the following:

  • Inform your line manager and/or Human Resources manager.
  • You may choose to self-quarantine. Work from home, do not come to the office for 14 days from the day you returned from Sabah or came into close contact with someone who just returned from Sabah.”

It is learnt Astro journalists who covered the Sabah elections are also being ‘quarantined’ in hotels for up to two weeks.

This comes despite Senior Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob saying those whose swab tests showed negative can “lead a normal life” – even if the results come back within four hours.

Doctors, however, have raised concern over the spike in cases in recent weeks, especially in Sabah where over 1,000 cases have been recorded since Sept 1.

Malaysian Medical Association president Prof Datuk Dr M. Subramaniam, in a statement yesterday, said the next three weeks will be crucial in controlling the spread of Covid-19.

He even suggested that those who returned from Sabah be placed in quarantine centres and returnees report to work only if they are certified medically fit and declared free of Covid-19.

Health director-general Tan Sri Noor Hisham Abdullah, on Twitter last night, clarified Malaysia has never quarantined anyone returning from a red zone of interstate travel unless they have been in close contact with a positive case or symptomatic.

He tweeted: “We have never quarantined anyone coming back from a red zone of interstate travel in our country, unless they are close contact to a positive case or symptomatic. If they are negative & not a PUI or PUS we advise compliance to SOPs, Self-regulation and Self quarantine.”

Yet, the debate over the quarantine rule continues as the recent state election has been singled out as the culprit for the increase in cases in the state that has resulted in four districts – Lahad Datu, Tawau, Kunak and Semporna – placed under the Targeted Enhanced Movement Control Order (TEMCO) for two weeks starting 12.01am on Sept 29.

It remains unclear to why the health authorities only waited until Saturday to announce it was compulsory for all returnees from Sabah to undergo Covid-19 screening upon arrival, as many returned from the state earlier without any screening.

There are also concerns of those who initially tested negative for the coronavirus only to test positive later.

This was evident in the Sivagangga cluster. The man responsible for the spread of Covid-19 in Kedah, Nezar Mohamed Sabur Batcha, 57, initially tested negative for the coronavirus.

He was later acknowledged as the index case for the Covid-19 ‘Sivagangga cluster’ that resulted in several parts of the state to be placed under TEMCO.

Doctors in Sabah, who spoke to Twentytwo13, fear that a fresh wave will leave them vulnerable due to the limited manpower, facilities and equipment.

The Health Ministry announced yesterday there were 17 Covid-19 cases of travellers who had visited Sabah recently – nine in Selangor and one each in Kuala Lumpur, Kelantan, Kedah, Melaka, Perak, Penang, Perlis and Putrajaya.

Here’s a round-up of The News Normal today.

SELANGOR R-NAUGHT HIGHER THAN SABAH’S

Health director-general Tan Sri Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah tweeted today that the Covid-19 infectivity rate or R-naught (R0) in Selangor has increased to an estimated 1.95.

This is higher than Sabah’s 1.26.

Noor Hisham also said the increase was due to the surge in new cases – between 10 and 15 daily – compared to only two or three cases previously.

FAHMI FADZIL’S STAFF MEMBER HAS COVID-19

Lembah Pantai Member of Parliament Fahmi Fadzil has confirmed a member of his staff has Covid-19. The person returned from Sabah on Sept 25 and has since been sent to Sungai Buloh Hospital for treatment.

Although the last time he met the infected person was on Sept 1, Fahmi and other staff members went to the Tanglin Health Clinic for Covid-19 screening. They will also undergo quarantine at home.

WORK TOGETHER TO PREVENT LOCKDOWN, SAYS BUNG

Sabah Deputy Chief Minister I Datuk Seri Bung Moktar Radin says the Health Ministry has suggested Kota Kinabalu be subjected to travel restrictions.

He, however, said that will depend on the daily development of the number of Covid-19 cases.

“It is still under control so there is no need for a lockdown. It is different on the other side (Lahad Datu, Kunak, Semporna and Tawau Districts),” he said.

The government imposed the targeted enhanced movement control order (TEMCO) as over 1,000 cases were recorded in those districts since Sept 1.