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KOTA KINABALU – Ten of the 69 Pulau Gaya islanders who fled when they were being taken to a quarantine centre have been detained in several locations here.
Sabah police commissioner Datuk Hazani Ghazali said the runaways from Kg Pondo are mostly fishmongers and traders at the Kota Kinabalu market here.
“They were arrested this morning and will be handed to the health authorities for further action.
“Police will continue to hunt for the remaining 59 escapees who are still at large.”
He said the 69 individuals are Covid-19 close contacts who were ordered to undergo screening and quarantine.
“There is a possibility that they are infected.”
Police are conducting an intensive search on land and sea for the runaways, and monitoring exit points between Pulau Gaya and the mainland here – the distance between these two locations is about 6.4km, or five to 10 minutes by boat.
The Health Ministry and Sabah government have already instructed the 69 individuals to surrender last night, adding that refusal to do so will be met with stern action.
Four villages, including Kg Pondo, on Pulau Gaya have been put under an enhanced movement control order from July 2 to 21.
The ministry detected 215 coronavirus cases after testing 1,339 individuals on the island, mostly from Kg Kasuapan, Kg Lok Urai, Kg Pulau Gaya and Kg Pondo. – The Vibes, July 7, 2021
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