LABUAN – Covid-19 screening for all ship crews and workers in the oil and gas-related (O&G) sectors passing through this duty-free-island’s gazetted entry points, namely the two ferry terminals and Labuan Airport, is still mandatory, said Labuan Health Department Director Dr Ismuni Bohari.
He said the screening is mandatory as there is concern that possible infections from outsiders could potentially lead to a mass outbreak on the island.
“We are doing our job as empowered by the federal government, and it is our responsibility to safeguard the island from a mass outbreak,” he told Bernama.
He added that lately, the shipping industry had requested that their crews forgo Covid-19 screening, but said that Labuan – being an oil and gas hub – is frequently visited by foreign ship crews and workers and expatriates in the O&G-related sectors from outside of Labuan, and thus the Covid-19 tests are still necessary.
On the case of more than 40 candidates of the Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) examination of a secondary school here who underwent Covid-19 tests yesterday morning after one of the school’s teachers tested positive on Friday, Ismuni said all had been confirmed free of the virus and were undergoing self-quarantine.
Labuan has recorded 2,194 cases as of yesterday with 13 deaths. The financial hub still has 71 active cases with two patients in the intensive care unit (ICU). – Bernama, February 7, 2021
