DUE to popular demand, a Selangor state assemblyman announced that he would resume his affordable COVID-19 test programme using the Rapid Antigen (RTK-AG) kit for all, from Jan 18 until Jan 22.
“The main reason we are continuing the initiative is to fulfill the demand for affordable testing as many have come into contact with a positive patient in recent days and are anxious of their well-being.
“Testing helps curb the spread. By identifying the positive cases and ensuring they are isolated, there is a possibility that we can stop spreading the virus.
“Clearly, the Government’s healthcare facilities are stretched too thin and unable to cope with the current situation. Therefore, I am stepping in to do what I can and glad to see that several other state assemblypersons have followed suit,” said Rajiv Rishyakaran, in a statement.
In recent times, Health Ministry director-general Tan Sri Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah has said that public healthcare facilities are getting overwhelmed, prompting him to urge those with mild COVID-19 symptom to quarantine at home.
With the Emergency proclamation early this week, the Government had said that it would rope in private healthcare players to help in the matter, an idea which has been voiced out by Rajiv and several others over the past few months.
Rajiv said that his team has been conducting COVID-19 tests in three clinics up to last week but decided to increase it due to rising number of new infections.
“We temporarily suspended the programme last week as we had to stop crowd build up outside the respective clinics. We were looking for a bigger venue to accommodate soaring demand and now we are pleased to announce that the initiative is back.
“For a start, we will be running this programme over a five-day trial period until Jan 22. This will give us time to evaluate the challenges, learn from it and make the necessary changes to continue the initiative,” the Bukit Gasing lawmaker said.
He added that they have roped in cooperation from the People’s Volunteer Corps (Rela) to aid in security and are placing a few staff on site to ensure everyone adheres to the standard operating procedures (SOP).
“We are also calling for doctors or testing partners to join us so that we can keep this initiative going and urge everyone that come to get tested, please adhere to the SOPs and follow the guidelines provided,” Rajiv added.
The RTK-AG tests will be conducted at the MBPJ Multipurpose Hall in Jalan 51A/227, from 1pm to 5pm, Monday to Friday.
Still priced at RM70 for person, the tests will be conducted by the previous clinic partners on-site, and can accommodate up to 250 walk-in patients per day. – Jan 16, 2021.
