Sarawak Health Dept sets up coronavirus hotline

A long line of vehicles waiting to enter Miri from Brunei at the Sg Tujuh checkpoint 35km north of Miri city as health checks intensify to prevent coronavirus spread into Miri.

MIRI: The Sarawak Health Department has set up a hotline to allow swift reports to be made for any suspected novel coronavirus cases.

The hotline number - 082-443248 - is being managed by the department's Crisis Preparedness and Response Centre.

An announcement on this hotline was issued by the State Disaster Relief Management Committee secretariat.

"Any suspected case of novel coronavirus must be immediately referred to the Crisis Preparedness and Response Centre of the State Health Department at 082-443248.

"All doctors in government clinics and hospitals, as well as private hospitals and clinics, must report every suspected case they come across," said the secretariat in a press statement.

On Saturday (Feb 8), a total of 11 new patients were admitted to hospitals for investigation after they were reported to show symptoms, said the secretariat.

"The 11 new patients under investigation are nine in Sibu Hospital and one in Miri Hospital and one in Sarawak General Hospital in Kuching.

"From Jan 10 until now, 57 suspected cases were investigated and 36 had tested negative for the virus," said the secretariat.

Since Feb 2, more than 52,000 people entering Sarawak from outside have been screened at the airports and land and sea entry points, said the secretariat.

A check by The Star at the Miri-Brunei entry point showed long queues of vehicles from Brunei waiting in line to fill health declaration forms at the border crossings.

An average of 30,000 entries were reported daily from Brunei and foreigners from Brunei come into Miri for shopping, food and entertainment.

Brunei has direct air links from mainland China and many China nationals use Brunei as a transit into Miri.