MIRI – The surveillance of people undergoing Covid-19 quarantine at home, designated centres and hotels after their return from high-risk destinations appears to be ineffective, said Miri MP Dr Teo Yu Keng.
He told The Vibes that concerns are mounting after multiple incidences of people under Covid-19 surveillance (PUS) were found to have visited public areas, despite being a potential health risk to others.
The latest security breach uncovered here yesterday saw a Covid-19-positive assistant pilot admitting to going shopping and eating at malls and restaurants while awaiting the results of his Covid-19 test, taken upon his return from hard-hit Sabah.
He is now in Miri Hospital's Covid-19 isolation ward.
Teo said the lack of surveillance has allowed numerous breaches, not just here, but other areas in the state, which altogether has seen 19 deaths to Covid-19, as well.
“There have been quite a number of cases of people who were supposed to be confined to their hotel rooms or houses while awaiting Covid-19 test results being found outside their confinement places.
“They go to malls, eateries and supermarkets, posing potential health risks to others.
“MPs across the country have raised this issue in the Dewan Rakyat many times.
“The ministries concerned are in a dilemma as there are thousands of people under surveillance every day.”
Last month, a man quarantined at a hotel here after arriving from a high-risk destination was arrested after leaving the premises.
Police caught him after being alerted to his presence by the public, who spotted him in the city centre wearing a pink wristband, denoting his quarantine status.
The state's Disaster Relief Management Committee secretariat later confirmed the arrest.
Teo said the lack of an effective system to monitor those in quarantine is not just a local problem.
“It is a dilemma at the national level, too.
“The authorities managing quarantine hotels and homes must be strict in preventing those under surveillance to wander around outside their rooms or homes.
“There must be round-the-clock surveillance of all the places used as quarantine centres to prevent breaches.
“But how do we supervise thousands of them?” – The Vibes, January 1, 2021
