AT least five ministers have been quarantined after returning from the Sabah state election last Saturday, Berita Harian reported.

The five are senior minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob, Foreign Minister Hishammuddin Hussein, Home Minister Hamzah Zainuddin, Youth and Sports Minister Reezal Merican Naina Merican and Agriculture and Food Industries Minister Ronald Kiandee.

The weekly cabinet meeting, held every Wednesday, was also postponed yesterday due to health and safety concerns.

Ismail Sabri posted on Facebook that he took the Covid-19 swab test soon after returning from Sabah and will self-quarantine until the test result comes in.

“To make sure, I took the swab test, and if it is negative, I’ll be free from quarantine,” he said.

“Although it is negative, we need to abide by the standard operating procedure (SOP).”

Ismail Sabri advised those with symptoms to immediately go to a clinic or hospital to get tested.

He, however, said that despite testing negative in the first test, they will have to undergo the mandatory 14-day quarantine, if a close contact was tested positive.

Hishammuddin, meanwhile, was ordered by the Health Ministry to self-quarantine after returning from Sabah on September 28.

“I recently went to Pitas to help the BN candidate, Sufian Abdul Karim, in the state elections. Sufian was later confirmed positive for Covid-19.

“I have been instructed to undergo self-quarantine at home despite the initial screening made upon my arrival from Sabah.

“I know some of the BN machinery have been tested positive for Covid-19 but I hope they remain resilient and will soon recover,” Hishammuddin said, adding that they complied with every SOP, but could not escape the virus. – October 1, 2020.