Covid-19: Teachers returning to Sabah and Sarawak will be tested before schools reopen

PETALING JAYA: Teachers or lecturers who are coming back to Sabah and Sarawak from will have to undergo a Covid-19 swab test before schools reopen, says Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob.

The Senior Minister (Security) said this applies to teachers returning to schools and educational institutions in Sabah and Sarawak from Peninsular Malaysia or Labuan.

The costs of the screening will be borne by the government, he added.

"In Sabah, three days before returning to the state, they have to undergo the swab tests.

"In Sarawak, this is to be done before entering or upon arriving at the international gate in airports.

"All costs for the screening for teachers, lecturers and their family members will be borne by the government," he said in a press conference on Friday (Jan 8).

He said those heading to Sarawak would be quarantined in centres designated by the state government.

"The costs of the quarantine will be borne by the Sarawak government," he said.

In Kota Kinabalu, state Local Government and Housing Minister Datuk Masidi Manjun said as of now, there are no changes to the current SOP where teachers are required to take a swab test three days before returning to Sabah.

“But we are evaluating this on a daily basis and would be monitoring the situation.

“We would make changes if necessary, it is not impossible to change (the SOP ruling),” he said when giving his daily Covid-19 updates for Sabah on Friday.

He was asked whether Sabah will emulate Sarawak to quarantine teachers.

Sabah has been recording rising cases daily following Christmas and New Year’s holidays, with 401 new cases recorded, bringing the figure to 39,854 cumulatively.

A new cluster in Keningau called the “Kauran cluster” was recorded on Friday with 55 cumulative cases.

Masidi reiterated the need for people to take SOP seriously, stating that the drop in compliance has resulted in more cases among close contacts.

“There is an apparent lack of seriousness among the public, we have become a bit more relaxed.

“Looking at the statistics, the desired improvement is not there,” he said when asked whether the situation was going to get better.