The Malaysian Insight

ACTION can be taken against patients who violate self-quarantine orders by appearing in public, said director-general of health Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah.

He said this in response to recurring online reports of such patients, identifiable by quarantine wristbands, appearing in public.

“If they are identified with wristbands, it means they must remain at home. They cannot leave their homes. That is what it means by self-quarantine,” Noor Hisham told a press conference in Putrajaya today.

He said the self-quarantine applies even if the patient does not test positive after treatment at hospitals.

“Jogging or going to the market, that is not quarantine. This is a mandatory quarantine (for those with wristbands). We advise those quarantined at home to sit at home.”

Noor Hisham said self-quarantine orders come under the Prevention and Control of Infectious Diseases Act and action can be taken against those who disobey.

A record low of 15 new Covid-19 cases have been detected today, nine of which are locally transmitted.

Noor Hisham said the figures bode well for previous efforts to curb Covid-19 infections but warned that a “second wave” may occur should the public cease to follow social distancing rules.

He said the World Health Organisation had similarly warned that an increase in infections can follow in countries that relaxed movement restrictions too soon.

“If we don’t follow SOP (standard operating procedures), maybe there will be new cases. So we need to be wary of the new infections especially during festivities.

“We can avoid this huge tsunami of cases if we follow the SOP that is social distancing of 1m from one another, avoiding the 3Cs (crowded places, close contact and confined places) and following the 3Ws (wash hands frequently, wear face masks and heed public health warnings).”

The health ministry carried out 21,000 tests yesterday and Noor Hisham hopes the figure can be raised to 30,000 next week.

He said 120 hospitals nationwide are equipped to screen for Covid-19 infections, with 40 hospitals able to treat patients, including seven Covid-19 exclusive hospitals.

Noor Hisham said hospital occupancy for Covid-19 is currently at 15% with 1,090 ventilators available. If there is a surge, Noor Hisham expected 80% of cases to be within Category 1 and 2, where patients were asymptomatic or have mild symptoms. 

“We have identified a few areas where we can open up and contain patients who are asymptomatic or have mild symptoms.” – May 27, 2020.