HEALTH experts are concerned over the shortened quarantine period for ministers returning from abroad as there is scientific evidence to show the incubation period of Covid-19, which is the time between exposure to the virus and symptom onset, is on average five to six days days, but can be as long as 14 days.

They slammed the government for practising double standards in letting its officials quarantine for only three days while the ordinary person must quarantine for 10 days upon returning from overseas.

Epidemiologist Prof Dr Awang Bulgiba Awang Mahmud of University Malaya told The Malaysian Insight the exemption was illogical.

“This ruling flies in the face of logic. It comes at a time when there is declining trust in the Covid-19 numbers announced by the authorities. Trust will be further eroded by this new ruling,” he said.

“I do not know the basis of this new rule but I am very concerned. First, there appears to be double standards here as this rule does not apply to non-ministers,” he said.

Awang said the move also went against the science, which clearly indicated three days was insufficient to show whether one was infected.

He said certain strains of the virus, such as the B.1.1.7 in the UK, 501.V2 in South Africa, P.1 and P.2 in Brazil, and L452R in Denmark could persist for more than than 10 days.

This, he said, was why he had suggested that the quarantine period for incoming international travellers to be lengthened to 14 days from the current 10.

“I have warned against double standards quite a few times as trust levels decline when people perceive double standards in the application of rules.

“When trust in health authorities drops, then people may choose not to follow their rules. Unless enforcement personnel are around, they will flout those rules when there is less danger of being caught. And the disease transmission will continue.”

Starting today ministers returning from overseas working visits are exempted from section 15 of the Prevention and Control of Infectious Diseases Act 1988 (Act 342).

The news was released last night announcing cabinet members need only quarantine for three days instead of the mandatory 10 upon their return from overseas.

Malaysians, including politicians, have denounced the double standards.

Social media today saw growing calls for the resignation of Health Minister Dr Adham Baba, who announced the exemption.

Malaysian Public Health Physicians’ Association president Dr Zainal Ariffin Omar said there was no  scientific basis for the exemption.

The World Health Organisation recommends at least 10 days of quarantine taking into account the incubation and transmissible periods and the predictive results of the Covid-19 test, he said.

Zainal said overseas returnees have a higher risk of  being infected especially with virus strains which are highly infectious mutations that have been spreading in certain countries.

“The exemption is seen as a mixed message from the government to the rakyat and will widen the trust deficit of the people for the government and increase the negative perception of the Health Ministry.

“We hope the government will be more cautious in implementing this (new move) as it has a (high) risk of (enabling) transmission into the community.”

Previously, Plantation Industries and Commodities Minister Mohd Khairuddin Aman Razali came under fire for skipping quarantine on his return from Covid-19-hit Turkey.

The Health Ministry slapped Khairuddin with a RM1,000 fine for breaching quarantine rules.

Khairuddin had apologised and said he would donate four months’ salary to charity.

Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin was also criticised for not taking action against Khairuddin despite telling Malaysians the government will not practise double standards in enforcing the rules to prevent the spread of the coronavirus. – February 9, 2021.