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Khairy: Covid-positive cases can be released from quarantine if tested negative on Day 4 of infection

A health worker in protective suit collects swab samples from a motorist at a drive-through testing site for Covid-19 at Ajwa Clinic in Shah Alam February 9, 2022. — Picture by Yusof Mat Isa
A health worker in protective suit collects swab samples from a motorist at a drive-through testing site for Covid-19 at Ajwa Clinic in Shah Alam February 9, 2022. — Picture by Yusof Mat Isa

KUALA LUMPUR, April 27 — Under the transition into the endemic phase, Putrajaya announced today that those who tested positive for Covid-19 can be released from the home surveillance order (HSO) on Day 4, should they test negative by then.

Health Minister Khairy Jamaluddin said under this condition which begins on May 1, they must take an RTK-Antigen test supervised by a certified medical practitioner, either in person, or via virtual meeting to have their status updated.

Khairy said that the new standard operating procedure also applied to those already undergoing their isolation.

“They can do the test and release,” he said.

Currently, anyone who tests positive for Covid-19 is required to undergo a mandatory seven-day quarantine period.

“Under this new protocol, an individual can be released from isolation starting day four, if confirmed negative through an RTK-Antigen test supervised by a medical practitioner.

“However, if still positive, the individual must complete an isolation period of seven days, but beginning day four they can test- day four, five, six.

He said the test should be performed using an RTK-antigen self-test kit with supervision by a medical practitioner registered with the Malaysian Medical Council (MMC), either physically or virtually.

To do so, one needs to make a virtual test on day four via video call with any medical practitioner registered with the MMC.

If the result turns out negative, it will be entered into the e-Covid system by the medical practitioner, to enable data integration with the MySejahtera application.

The individual will then immediately obtain a release order from isolation, he said.

He added that if an individual does not want to undergo the Covid-19 detection test on day four, then discharge will be granted automatically as being done currently, after undergoing isolation for seven days.

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