BY James Kon & Izah Azahari

Each hospital patient is allowed two visitors outside of the carer starting today, the Ministry of Health (MoH) said in a statement on Sunday.

The latest hospital policies released also stated that visits from children under the age of 12 remains prohibited.

For those with the BruHealth app, only visitors carrying green or yellow code with a negative swab result in the past 24 hours are allowed entry. Meanwhile, those without the BruHealth app or proof of a negative swab test are required to screen for COVID-19 at designated swab stations using personal antigen rapid test (ART) kits.

To keep the risk of infection at bay and to ensure patients receive sufficient rest and timely care and treatment, visitors are only allowed in cold zone wards. Holding and isolation wards as well as those on lockdown are prohibited.

The statement also added that visitors are allowed to make video calls with family but must refrain from taking video recordings of staff, other patients or the wards.

Only one visitor is allowed to accompany the patient for appointment or medicine collection.

In keeping with the health protocols, all visitors and carers must wear face masks at all times and maintain physical distance from one another; keep hands clean with soap or sanitiser; keep mobile phones on silence; and respect other patients’ privacy.

Meanwhile, services have also been reinstated at Pengiran Anak Puteri Hajah Muta-Wakkilah Hayatul Bolkiah Health Centre in Kampong Rimba; Muara Health Centre; Jubli Perak Sengkurong Health Centre; Pengkalan Batu Health Centre; Pengiran Anak Puteri Hajah Rashidah Sa’adatul Bolkiah Health Centre in Kampong Sungai Asam; Pekan Tutong Health Centre; Sungai Kelugos Health Centre; Lamunin Health Centre; Telisai Health Centre; Sungai Liang Health Centre; and Seria Health Centre.

Berakas Health Centre will also see the resumption of services, such as primary healthcare for the chronic diseases clinic, general and flu clinic, phlebotomy services, pharmacy, community nutrition services, community clinical psychology services, dental services, community eye clinic, national health screening programme and nurse-led clinic from 7.45am to 12.15pm and 1.30pm to 4.30pm, as well as after-hour services on Mondays to Thursdays and Saturdays from 6-9pm, and Fridays, Sundays and public holidays from 2-9pm.

Meanwhile, the primary care services at Belait Health Centre remain suspended until further notice.

More detailed information can be obtained by calling Darussalam Line 123 or visit the MoH website at www.moh.gov.bn.

-- Courtesy of Borneo Bulletin