Izah Azahari
BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN, Aug 29 (NNN-ANN) – About 81 percent of COVID-19 positive cases in Categories One and Two are placed at government isolation centres. They will be allowed to return home to continue their quarantine once their recovery is confirmed.
This was stated by the Minister of Health, Dr Haji Mohd Isham bin Haji Jaafar, during the daily press conference yesterday.
Dr Haji Mohd Isham said, cooperation from the patient’s family is required, to send a change of clothes to the isolation centre, where the patient is admitted, two to three days prior to when the patient is allowed to return home.
The minister also explained that prior to this, those in Categories One and Two were placed at the National Isolation Centre (NIC), but they have now been allocated to the National Service Programme (PKBN) Training Camp in Temburong District or other isolation centres.
“If they do not experience any kind of symptoms, by Day 8 or Day 10, they will be swabbed, or if their swab tests are negative by Day 8, they will be allowed to return home, as the virus is no longer viable by Day 8,” said the minister.
Dr Haji Mohd Isham said, once the patients are home, their Quarantine Order (QO) will be extended for another 14 days, making it a total of 21 days of isolation.
He explained that in Europe, cases are quarantined for 10 days and are not checked for the virus after 10 days, as they know the virus is no longer viable by the eighth day.
Meanwhile, the minister said, at Ma’had Islam Brunei’s isolation centre, the hall is used in the first phase, while the second and third phases see temporary extensions that can house an additional 800 patients, making for a total of 1,000 patients housed at Ma’had Islam Brunei.
“The aim of using Ma’had Islam Brunei for cases categorised as 2(b) and above, is because, if something does happen, it will be easy to move the patients to the NIC as it is only a few minutes’ drive, as opposed to, if they were placed at PKBN or Lumut, as the drive may take more than two hours from these locations,” Dr Haji Mohd Isham said.
He added that, the plan is for those who experience symptoms that can worsen to preferably be placed in Ma’had Islam Brunei, while those with serious symptoms are placed at NIC.
“Those in Category 1 are no longer placed at NIC, due to the increasing number of Category 3 and Category 4 cases.
“The NIC needs to be fully prepared for patients with severe disease.”
He said, the ministry is adding more resources at different locations, with more doctors and nurses brought to Tutong District and other isolation centres.
“We’re stretching it quite a bit, but Alhamdulillah, we have people from the private sector as well, especially the military, who helped to manage these places,” Dr Haji Mohd Isham said.– NNN-ANN
