KUALA LUMPUR (Feb 9): The Malaysian Health Coalition (MHC) and Malaysian Medical Association (MMA) have urged the government to revoke a three-day quarantine order for ministers, introduced under the Prevention and Control Infectious Diseases (Exemption) Order 2021.
The exemption order, which comes into effect today until Aug 1, states any Cabinet minister returning from any overseas’ official visit will need to be under observation for three days or undergo supervision until they can be released without endangering the public. This is shorter than the current 10-day mandatory quarantine requirement for those who are taking international or certain domestic flights.
In a statement on its website today, the MHC said the justification provided by Health Minister Datuk Seri Adham Baba “does not sufficiently explain the rationale, science, evidence or even facts” behind the decision for the three-day quarantine.
“Therefore, we can only take it at face value, and we oppose this Order in the strongest possible way,” it noted.
“The Exemption Order institutionalises double standards that undermine the national effort to curb Covid-19. Double standards that are not based on science or evidence erode public trust in the SOPs,” the statement noted, adding that health professionals cannot fight Covid-19 without public trust and confidence in the health system.
MHC noted on its website that it is an apolitical coalition of Malaysian health professional societies, health professionals and citizens dedicated to improving the health of Malaysians, strengthening the Malaysian health system, and supporting health in all policies.
Its members include Academy of Medicine of Malaysia, Association of Private Hospitals Malaysia, Islamic Medical Association Malaysia (IMAM), Malaysian Nurses Association, Malaysian Oncological Society, National Cancer Society Malaysia, Public Health Malaysia and Rare Diseases Alliance Foundation of Malaysia.
Meanwhile, the MMA said it strongly opposes the new directive allowing cabinet ministers returning from official visits abroad to quarantine for only three days, urging for the order to be revoked immediately.
The association said the new order by the government was a double standard and that the same 10-day quarantine period should apply to all individuals, regardless of position.
“Careful consideration must be exercised with any new order issued under the Prevention and Control of Infectious Diseases Act (Act 342), and any decisions in managing the pandemic must be based on science and evidence.
According to information on the World Health Organisation website, the incubation period for Covid-19, which is the time between exposure to the virus (becoming infected) and symptom onset, is on average five to six days, but can be up to 14 days.
“During this period, also known as the 'presymptomatic' period, some infected persons can be contagious. Therefore, transmission from a pre-symptomatic case can occur before symptom onset,” it added.
Two months ago, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued a new guidance noting that people exposed to Covid-19 who are asymptomatic can quarantine for 10 day, instead of 14, and for seven days if they receive a negative test result.