Sabah Health Department director Datuk Dr Christina Rundi said the Kota Kinabalu Health Laboratory could not carry out more tests because of a shortage of Covid-19 reagents.
Dr Rundi said the shortage was not faced by the Sabah lab but also others nationwide.
“The Sabah Health Department is trying to overcome the shortage as fast as possible,” she added.
She said as of Tuesday (March 24), the lab conducted seven positive Covid-19 cases in Sabah of which six were repeat tests, while only one was a new case.
She said currently, Sabah recorded 170 positive Covid-19 cases of which three cases were not linked to the tabligh gathering in the Seri Petaling Mosque in Kuala Lumpur.
Dr Rundi said that the three cases were linked to a group visit to Thailand recently.
She said also said that a new quarantine centre was opened in Kota Belud district at Jamek Kg Pirasan mosque.
A total of 553 people were quarantined at 13 quarantine centres statewide, with six allowed to return home.
She also reminded everyone coming into Sabah, whether from overseas or other states, to undergo 14 days quarantine at the designated quarantine centres.
She said that it was mandatory under the law and those who defy could be charged under the Prevention and Control of Infectious Diseases Act.
She said the department will also be charging five people in Tawau who failed to observe their home quarantine.
On a viral video of Lahad Datu Hospital staff stitching their own personal protective equipment (PPE) that went viral on Facebook, Dr Rundi said it showed innovative ways were taken by medical staff as they waited for arrival of the PPE equipment.
“This does not mean that the Health Department or the state and the Federal Government are not trying to acquire the PPE,” she said, adding that they were waiting for the PPE to arrive soon to meet the needs of the staff.
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