THE Health Ministry today said 90 people who had been in close contact with Dr Zulkifli Mohamad Al-Bakri, including those at a National Security Council meeting that the Religious Affairs Minister attended on Saturday, have tested negative for Covid-19.

Director-General of Health Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah said local health departments will continue close contact tracing. 

“He (Zulkifli) is in stable condition. Health officials will continue to conduct risk assessment and screenings,” he said during a live telecast on the Health Ministry Facebook page.

Dr Noor Hisham was responding to questions whether those who had  attended the meeting, which discussed the Covid-19 situation, with Zulkifli in Putrajaya had been tested.

Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin had chaired the meeting and is on home quarantine.

Yesterday, Zulkifli confirmed he was infected with the coronavirus.

He also urged those who attended events where he was present from September 24 to October 4 to undergo Covid-19 screening immediately. 

Zulkifli drew flak over his failure to self-quarantine following his return from Sabah. Instead, he had followed a busy work itinerary that took him all over the country.

While it is not known when or how the minister contracted the disease, his Twitter timeline is a record of the places he was recently in.

Zulkfili has visited three universities, travelled to Kelantan and Terengganu, and attended several conferences since returning from Tuaran on September 24. – October 6, 2020.