SARAWAK will buy rapid blood test kits to screen suspected cases of the novel coronavirus.

The state, which has eight suspected cases to date, will also be purchasing two thermal scanners for its Sibu and Bintulu airports as it scrambles to take steps to tackle the possible spread of the virus.

Deputy Chief Minister Douglas Uggah said the test kits would be to shorten the time for a result.

At present, all samples are sent to the Institute for Medical Research (IMR) in Kuala Lumpur and it could take up to 48 hours for a result.

Uggah, after chairing the State Disaster Management Committee meeting today, said the test kit will shorten the time for a result to under 12 hours.

This means the state’s four major airports – Kuching international, Sibu, Bintulu and Miri regional airports – will have the ability to scan quickly passengers for abnormal body temperature.

Uggah said the state aims to have the scanners operation in two weeks, due to the urgency of the situation.

The supplier has already sent personnel to train the officers who would be operating the equipment.

Invoking its immigration powers, Sarawak has now made it a requirement for all passengers on all flights to the state to fill a self-declaration form before disembarking.

“All passengers coming to Sarawak must fill this form,” Uggah said.

Immigration and health officers will check the forms.

Of the eight people that are under quarantine as “people under investigation” (PUI), six have been tested negative while two are awaiting results of their tests.

Five of the PUIs are in Kuching with one each in Sibu, Bintulu and Miri.

Uggah said of the eight, four are Sarawakians, three Chinese and one Thai.– January 29, 2020.