Health facilities in Kelantan ready to handle border reopening - Dr Zaini

KOTA BHARU: Health facilities in Kelantan are ready to deal with any increase in COVID-19 cases following the government's announcement to reopen international borders on April 1.

Kelantan Health director Datuk Dr Zaini Hussin said the State Health Department was currently waiting for the standard operating procedure (SOP) to be issued in order to make detailed preparations.

"We do not rule out the possibility that there may be an increase in COVID-19 cases if the country's borders are reopened, but these may only involve cases in categories 1 and 2.

"Although the state has been recording more than 1,500 cases daily, 98 per cent of them are only in categories 1 and 2," he said when contacted by Bernama today, adding that Kelantan also had a very good percentage of full vaccination, which would help reduce the risk of COVID-19 infection.

Kelantan has three border checkpoints, namely the Immigration, Customs, Quarantine and Security Complexes (ICQS) complexes in Bukit Bunga (Tanah Merah); Rantau Panjang (Pasir Mas); and Pengkalan Kubor (Tumpat).

Yesterday, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob said the country would reopen its borders from April 1.

He said this was in line with plan to enter the 'Transition to Endemic' Phase, adding that the much-awaited announcement would revitalise the overall national economy, especially the tourism industry that has been badly affected by the pandemic.

-- BERNAMA