Putrajaya mulls surveillance, quarantine for non-compliant returning travellers to curb Covid-19

KUALA LUMPUR, March 30 — In a bid to contain a possible third wave of Covid-19 outbreak in the country, Putrajaya is considering home surveillance on travellers who returned from abroad.

Health Director-General Datuk Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah also said today that those who do not comply with the 14-day voluntary quarantine period may even be quarantined in designated centres.

“We see the second wave is all imported cases, Malaysians coming back from overseas, whether it was a tour or students coming back, so it is the groups that could bring back Covid-19.

“So, what we need to do now is to enhance on home surveillance, we have to make sure that the targeted group are placed in our quarantine centre. Although they are negative, we still have to place them [in quarantine centre] for 14 days,” Dr Noor Hisham said.

Currently, those returning from abroad are advised by the government to implement a 14-day voluntary quarantine period, even if they tested negative for Covid-19.

Those returning were advised to maintain their distance with family members at home and keep good hygiene practices such as washing hands throughout the quarantine period.

This comes as Dr Noor Hisham said there are still some who have not followed quarantine rules and have even left their homes, pushing the government to consider more stern measures.

Ministry of Health announced today that the country has yet again recorded its highest Covid-19 recoveries, with 479 recoveries, which is an increase of 91 compared to the previous record yesterday.

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