Senior Minister for Security Ismail Sabri Yaakob said the move was to prevent undocumented migrants from spreading the Covid-19 virus.

He said this was because migrants had largely contributed to the rise in the number of cases in the state.

The centres will be set up at the Manggatal and Pekan Kinarut community halls in Kota Kinabalu, as well as the Sibuga Hall, Batu 5, and Sri Gum-Gum Hall, Batu 16, in Sandakan.

“All newly detained undocumented migrants must do a swab test in these transit quarantine centres. While waiting for their results, they have to stay there.

“Once the results are out, if they test positive, they will be sent to hospital. If they are negative, they must remain in the transit quarantine centres for 14 days.

“After that, there will be a second screening. If they test negative, only then will they be sent to the immigration detention depot,” he said at a press conference from his home today.

Armed forces field hospital

Meanwhile, Ismail announced that the armed forces would set up a field hospital in Tawau to assist in treating non-Covid-19 cases, trauma surgery and other emergencies.

He said the decision was made after the health ministry had raised the issue of requiring more medical facilities to manage the increase in the number of Covid-19 cases in the state.

The hospital, he said, would have 100 beds and a staff consisting of eight medical officers, five specialist doctors and one commander, among others.

“The Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF) will also carry out daily flights to Sabah to assist the health ministry in logistic matters, such as bringing medical staff and swab test samples to labs in the peninsula,” he said.

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