COVID 19: At 'nearly empty' KLIA, returnees subjected to strict procedures

It was a rare and unusual sight upon setting foot into the largest and busiest airport in Malaysia, the Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) amid the COVID-19 pandemic and the Movement Control Order (MCO) period enforced to contain it.

The international gateway that has always been flooded with thousands of people at one time - with passengers standing at 62.3 million last year - was now almost abandoned, and oddly, free of traffic at its drop-off and pick-up areas outside the terminal building.

Inside, there were plenty of seats available, lines at the check-in counters were almost non-existent, restaurants and most shops closed, and there was hardly any announcements made. All that could be heard echoing across the terminal halls were spiritual songs.

There were thermal scanners placed before the check-in counters area in which departing passengers, and staff and crew members, needed to go through. Only those with body temperature below 37.5 degrees Celsius were allowed to pass.

When this writer went to the airport to observe the situation there recently, there were less than 10 outbound flights registered on the day, with less than a hundred foreign passengers seen lining up to check-in.

Passengers were seen wearing masks and surgical gloves, but one passenger, believed to be flying to Taipei, even put on full personal protective equipment (PPE) for further protection.

As COVID-19 continues to spread globally, a third of the world’s population is currently living under lockdown, leading to some Malaysians abroad struggling to return home.

National Disaster Management Agency (NADMA) Operation Director, Datuk Hussein Omar Khan, during a briefing with Bernama recently, said KLIA was expecting thousands of returning Malaysians and non-Malaysians such as diplomats, expatriates and their spouses.

“They are returning home from various countries, either through humanitarian missions arranged by the government or via their own commercial flight arrangements. This process will continue until the MCO ends, and should the MCO continue, then the same process will as well until there are further instructions by the government,” he said at the NADMA operation centre in KLIA, which operates round the clock.

As of April 30, 25,031 Malaysians returned from abroad and underwent compulsory quarantine enforced since April 3. Since April 17, a total of 11,119 individuals had been allowed to go home, according to Senior minister (Security Cluster), Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob.

As the coordinator tasked with bringing Malaysians back from abroad during this pandemic, NADMA has been given the responsibility of organising and dividing tasks to each of the respective authorities involved in the operation.

It is a tedious and meticulous task but well planned and organised. Everything is done in order, and everyone has their own task to contain the COVID-19 pandemic.

Those involved at KLIA comprise 25 NADMA members, 35 from the Royal Malaysia Police (PDRM), Fire and Rescue Department (30), Ministry of Health (30), six personnel from the People's Volunteer Corps (RELA), and four from the Prisons Department.

During this particular day of observation, an inbound flight from Doha, Qatar arrived at KLIA around 2 pm with 45 passengers onboard.

Upon landing, the passengers were taken on a five-minute bus ride from the satellite area to the contact pier (CP), an area where the screening process takes place.

All passengers had to pass through a thermal scanner before the initial COVID-19 health screening, in which they had to fill in a health declaration form.

The passengers were divided by groups: those without symptoms were put under a self-assessment of about 14 days at the quarantine station; whereas those with symptoms were referred to the Sungai Buloh Hospital straight away and those with comorbidities had samples taken.

After undergoing health screenings, the group without symptoms were allowed to pass through the immigration counters and held for 15 minutes at the holding area after which they were asked to fill in a registration form for their particulars.

They were then divided into two groups — Malaysians and non-Malaysians — and escorted to the baggage carousel area to pick up their respective belongings, followed by customs check before passing through the arrival hall to take a bus ride to the selected quarantine station (QS).

Before getting on the bus, the passengers' belongings were sprayed with disinfectant.

Each bus was limited to only 15 passengers and they were briefed beforehand by a representative from the Special Malaysia Disaster Assistance and Rescue Team (SMART).

With buses provided by Smart Selangor, the Malaysians group were brought to selected QS, which for this batch, were at Cleo Hotel Sunway and The Sunway Pyramid Hotel.

For non-Malaysians, who were required to pay for their accommodation, they were only allowed to stay at the Sama-Sama Hotel.

After a final check to ensure all passengers were onboard, the buses made their way to the respective destinations at once, with traffic police escorting them.

The time taken for the whole process at the airport to be completed was about two hours.

Currently, there are 232 quarantine stations (QS) across the country, and the cost for each Malaysian citizen fully borne by the government, amounting to RM150 per day, including three meals.

In managing the quarantine station, NADMA has set up a secretariat, comprising 30 members at a time. The Malaysia Civil Defence Force (APM) would manage the quarantine station, for instance, the MOH for the 14-day screening, the Social Welfare Department (JKM) for patients’ welfare and the police for security matters.

Once passengers arrive at the QS they would be classified as patients under investigation (PUI). They would then check in to their respective rooms and not allowed to leave for 14 days during the quarantine period.

Each room is strictly for one PUI, with the exception of children below 12-years-old and disabled people, who are allowed to stay in the same room with one guardian.

The secretariat, with the assistance of the hotel management, would send place their meals three times a day on a table in front of their room doors after which the PUI would be notified by telephone to collect the food.

As for room service, bedsheets and pillowcases are changed on day seven.

“Everything is handled closely by the secretariat. If any of the PUI shows symptoms, they will inform the secretariat and MOH personnel will treat them. If needed, they will then be sent to the Sungai Buloh Hospital for further treatment,” Hussein explained.

On day 12, or two days before the end of the quarantine period, another round of samples would be taken, and once their results test negative for the virus, they will be allowed to return home.

For their tireless effort in combating the COVID-19 pandemic, and for going above and beyond the call of duty in carrying their respective tasks, the frontliners certainly deserve much praise and gratitude.

As Malaysia begins to enforce the Conditional Movement Control Order (CMCO) beginning Monday (May 4) that will see many economic sectors resuming operations, the people are reminded to adhere to standard operating procedures as well as to always maintain good personal hand hygiene, wear face masks and practise social distancing. - BERNAMA