KOTA KINABALU: The police are tracking 69 Covid-19 suspects from Kampung Pondo, Pulau Gaya who were believed to have escaped while being transported to a Low-Risk Quarantine and Treatment Centre (PKRC).
Local Government and Housing Minister Datuk Seri Panglima Masidi Manjun on Tuesday urged villagers who have run away from Kampung Pondo to avoid being under Enhanced Movement Control Order (EMCO) to return to the village immediately to prevent spreading the virus to other communities.
“The police station at Pulau Gaya is currently tracking the 69 suspects who are believed to have escaped while being transported to PKRC.
“If they do not return to Kampung Pondo and are arrested by the enforcement, they will be taken action under Prevention and Control of Infectious Diseases Act 1988 and Prevention and Control of Infectious Diseases (Measures within Infected Local Areas) (Movement Control) Regulations 2021,” he warned.
He also urged the public to inform the nearest police station if they have information on the whereabouts of the villagers from Kampung Pondo.
The EMCO is enforced in Kg Pondo from June 30 to July 13.
On the other hand, Masidi, who is Sabah’s Covid-19 spokesperson, said screenings conducted at Taman Zifa Beaufort that was under EMCO has shown an increase in cases whereby 67 per cent, or 83 of the 190 residents tested positive.
Hence, he said the Disaster Operation Control Centre in Beaufort had called on residents in the surrounding areas who experienced symptoms to undergo screening in health clinics to curb the spread of Covid-19 in the locality.
Meanwhile, two villages in Sabah will be placed under EMCO from July 8 until July 21, following an increase in Covid-19 cases there.
They are Kampung Sri Menanti in Tawau which recorded 15 positive cases from 36 screenings and Kampung Pulau Gaya in Kota Kinabalu where 215 out of the 1,339 screened tested positive.
Meanwhile, EMCO at Kampung Kebayau in Kota Belud, Kampung Likas in Kota Kinabalu, Kampung JKR Lama and Kampung Pangi Hujung in Kunak and Kampung Kuala Merotai in Kalabakan ended on July 6.