MALAYSIA did two things differently compared to other countries in its fight against the Covid-19 pandemic, said director-general of health Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah.

The first, he said, is that positive cases were isolated and treated in the hospital regardless of whether they are symptomatic.

“Second is that Malaysians coming home were quarantined,” Noor Hisham said. 

Some countries have allowed home quarantine for positive patients.

He said overseas returnees were initially required to undergo compulsory quarantine at quarantine centres, but those who are not positive of the virus were required to undergo home surveillance for 14 days. 

On the 13th day, they will be retested for the virus and are free to “return to the community” if they are negative. 

Noor Hisham also said Malaysia will continue to strengthen border controls and curb local transmission.

Meanwhile, he also disputed rumours that the virus can be transmitted through food intake, saying the heat of cooking food would kill the virus. – June 14, 2020.