16 Sabah State Govt Buildings Become Additional Covid 19 Wards

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Sabah Finance Minister 2 Datuk Seri Masidi Manjun. -- File PixKOTA KINABALU: Sixteen government buildings have been converted into additional wards to treat the increasing number of Covid-19 patients in the state.
Sabah Finance Minister 2 Datuk Seri Masidi Manjun the additional wards were in Kota Kinabalu (Kampus INTAN and Kompleks Sukan Likas); Ranau (Dewan Kompleks Sukan); Tawau (Health Ministry Training Institute (ILKKM), Kompleks Penjara, Kompleks Sukan, and Dewan Arena Belia); and Semporna (PPR Bubul Ria); Sandakan (ILKKM and PPR Batu Putih).
Others were in Kunak (Dewan Arena Belia); Kota Belud (KB Resthouse); Kinarut (Pusat Latihan Kecemerlangan Koperasi); Beaufort (Dewan Selagon); Keningau (Dewan Masyarakat Keningau); and Lahad Datu (PPR Taman Seri Sapagaya).
Existing hospitals that are treating Covid-19 patients are Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Likas Women and Children Hospital, Sandakan's Duchess of Kent Hospital, Tawau Hospital, Lahad Datu Hospital, Keningau Hospital, and Marudu Hospital.
Today, Sabah recorded 488 new Covid-19 cases and two deaths. Currently, 2,610 patients are receiving treatment at hospitals.
On food assistance to the affected, Masidi, who is also minister of state Local Government and Housing, said the state government has distributed 5,134 food baskets to four Covid-19 red zones.
Masidi, in a statement today, said the food relief had been distributed since Oct 9 to Lahad Datu (1,150); Semporna (2,431); Kunak (553); and Tawau (1,000).
He said food basket distribution for other red zone districts namely Kota Kinabalu, Putatan, Penampang, Sandakan, Tuaran, and Papar would commence tomorrow as fund for these districts were only allocated on Oct 10.
"The state government also received 6,300 food basket assistance from the federal government on Oct 10.
"The food aid will be distributed to Kunak (1,000), Semporna (1,000), Lahad Datu) 1,500), Sandakan (1,500), Tawau (1,000), and Kota Kinabalu (300)," he said.
The assistance was coordinated under the National Community Welfare Department, while distribution was to be carried out by state Public Welfare Service Department.
Masidi said priority of food basket distribution would be for affected residents in areas put under conditional movement control order and villagers placed under these lockdown measures, as well as for families who were not allowed to go out due to home quarantine order.
The state government, under his Ministry, has also allowed 21 car workshops, 17 motorcycle workshops, 25 hardware shops, and 23 electrical shops to operate.
In Kota Kinabalu, six car workshops, five motorcycle workshops, six hardware shops, and three electrical shops were allowed to operate throughout conditional movement control order.
"Until today, the state government has given approval to 22 law firms to operate from 8am to 5pm, with 50 per cent of their workforce capacity.
"Today, the state Covid-19 Disaster Management Committee agreed to allow law firms with 10 staff to operate with 50 percent capacity without having to request for permission (to operate) from state government," said Masidi. - NST

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