Covid-19: Sabah health authorities planning measures for border reopening

KOTA KINABALU: Health authorities in Sabah are in the midst of drawing out strategic measures to prepare for the reopening of international borders come April 1.

"The Health Ministry has had discussions on the matter and we are now developing the strategy plan," said State Health Department director Datuk Dr Rose Nani Mudin.

"I think there should not be much of a problem except that we need to have more control at the state entry points," she said.

Dr Rose said existing strategic plans can be improved on and adopted or

fine-tuned to current situations.

She said a meeting would be held on Saturday (March 12) to finalise some of these matters.

She however said that the measures to be taken would be subject to the Health Ministry’s policies among others.

Asked if there would be an increase in Covid-19 infections in Sabah when the transition was implemented, Dr Rose pointed out that the virus was already within the community.

She said keeping that in mind, the virus would continue to be in the community regardless of whether the borders were opened.

She said vaccination and getting booster shots against the virus, and strict adherence to SOPs including physical distancing and maintaining a non-physical contact practice play a huge role in preventing the spread of the virus.

Dr Rose encouraged parents to get their young children inoculated instead of believing unverified information in social media platforms including on Tik Tok.

"Various measures including providing facilities such as vaccination centres and holding outreach programmes to boost vaccination among the public are ongoing," she added.