KOTA KINABALU – From Thursday onwards, those entering Sabah will have to undergo 14-day self-isolation under a new regulation issued by the state.
State Local Government and Housing Minister Datuk Seri Masidi Manjun said the new rule applies to both Sabahans and non-Sabahans, who must also test negative for Covid-19.
The rule, however, does not apply to civil servants on official business in Sabah.
Foreign investors and non-Sabahans entering Sabah for the purpose of investment will require special clearance.
“For non-Sabahans, they are required to undergo their quarantine in selected hotels, with the cost being borne by themselves.
“For Sabahans, permanent residents and those with work permits will need to undergo a 14-day quarantine at home,” said Masidi.
Quarantine hotels include Monaco Boutique Hotel, Oyo Hotel Lucky Eleven, Hotel Capital, Ming Garden Hotel, Pan Pacific Sutera, Monaco Boutique Hotel Kg Air, Winner Hotel, Capital Express, Palace Hotel, Nexus Karambunai, UNC hotel, Sky Hotel, Shangri-la Hotel, Mandarin Hotel, Hotel Marco Poli, Diamond Inn Hotel and Toojou Hotel.
“Thirteen hotels have been specially booked for offshore workers while those from other sectors can undergo quarantine with the consent of selected hotels.”
Masidi said that the number of hotels would be increased from time to time if the beds at existing quarantine centres are inadequate.
The state government is tightening entry regulations after state health authorities recorded two index cases from Labuan that caused mass infections in Tawau in mainland Sabah.
The first index case involved a husband and wife from the Federal Territory island who were tested on May 7 and were found to be negative for Covid-19.
The couple, who spent a week at the Abaka Plantations in Tawau during the Hari Raya holidays, began showing Covid-19 symptoms on May 12 and were confirmed positive on May 14.
They had by then infected nine other family members living in the same house with them.
The second case involved an individual from Labuan who returned to Tawau for Hari Raya on May 8 and was confirmed positive on May 16.
Having stayed at the Kg Sungai Imam plantation and visited family members at Taman Berkeley, the individual eventually infected 43 family members. – The Vibes, May 18, 2021
14-day mandatory quarantine for those entering Sabah from Thursday
New entry guidelines issued after 2 Labuan index cases cause multiple infections
Updated 5 years ago · Published on 18 May 2021 10:33PM
