THE Health Ministry is looking to add 12 more thermal scanners at Malaysia’s entry points to improve monitoring of the novel coronavirus, said Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad.

However, the health minister said any additional scanners to complement the existing 54 already in place are subject to the Finance Ministry’s approval.

“We have 54 (thermal scanners) now but we want to add another 12 units.

“That is what we are applying for, including for Johor Baru’s entry points,” he told a press conference at klia2 in Sepang today. 

Dr Dzulkefly said he did not expect any problems with the request as the prime minister and finance minister have both given their commitment to improving safety measures in the country.

“If the finance minister gives us the allocation immediately, then ok. 

“However, it takes a bit of (time) but it shouldn’t be long. They (the prime minister and finance minister) have given their commitment, I don’t think we should delay this,” he said today. 

Dr Dzulkefly had earlier said the number of confirmed Wuhan virus cases in Malaysia remains at four, all of them Chinese nationals.

The viral outbreak has killed 80 people in China, with the hard-hit province of Hubei recording 24 new fatalities, and nationwide cases have exceeded 2,700.

The Chinese government has placed Wuhan, the epicentre of the outbreak, and other cities in Hubei under an unprecedented lockdown, affecting tens of millions of residents, to contain the disease.

The virus is causing global concern due to its similarity to the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) pathogen, which killed hundreds across mainland China and Hong Kong in 2002 and 2003. – January 27, 2020.