Page 191 - MALAYSIA HEALTH SECTOR RESPONSE TO COVID-19 PANDEMIC: PERSPECTIVES FROM THE FIELD

others. Consequently, it was difficult for public health officials to do
contact tracing or transport cases to health facilities for quarantine or
treatment. Such reluctancy had caused some migrants to delay seeking
treatment at government healthcare facilities even after falling ill, likely
leading to more severe COVID-19 category three and above conditions by
the time they were admitted into hospitals for treatment. For instance, of
the 176 fatalities recorded in Sabah reported on 16th November 2020, 40 of
63 people who died even before receiving treatment were foreigners .
3
Another challenge faced in curbing the clusters involving migrants was the
multiple incidents where migrants had eluded from quarantine
centres while being screened for COVID-19. In addition, despite the
government’s best efforts in getting detainees screened before
being deported, the virus might not be detected during its incubation period,
giving rise to the possibility that the screening could fail to pick up a
positive reading due to the virus’ incubation period and a detainee might
export the virus to another country.

The state of Sabah is also facing a colossal challenge, with an estimated
one-third of its 2.9 million population being migrants, refugees, and
4,5
stateless people . The porous nature of the 1,400 km eastern coastline of
Sabah border 6,7 due to its terrain and vast territorial waters has brought
many challenges to the Immigration Department to halt the entry of illegal
immigrants and refugees from neighbouring countries into the state. If these
communities are not empowered to come forward to be screened, it will
pose a potent risk to the larger COVID-19 stricken population in Sabah.

9.5 Improving Living Conditions of Foreign Workers Quarters

The emergence of COVID-19 clusters at foreign worker accommodation has
brought about the awareness to improve the living conditions.
Besides, employers needed to ensure that their workers’ living quarters
comply with SOPs. New policies for workers that have come about due to
8,9
the emergence of these clusters are :
a. Employers are responsible for educating their workers on good hygiene
practices and preventive measures
b. Embassies for the workers’ country of origin and non-governmental
organisations are urged to work together to ensure that the most
effective communication methods are used to communicate with these

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