THE Health Ministry’s Covid-19 mandatory quarantine rules for patients will remain till the end of the year and will be reviewed then, Khairy Jamaluddin said.

The health minister said under the current arrangement, individuals who test positive for the coronavirus are required to undergo seven days of home quarantine, but are allowed release if they test negative on the fourth day.

“One of the reasons why we are able to keep the pandemic under control today is the people’s adherence to these quarantine rules.

“When a person tests positive, they isolate themselves for seven days. If they test negative on the fourth day, they can be released.

“For now, we will maintain this until the end of the year when Act 342 is no longer enforced,” Khairy said, referring to the Prevention and Control of Infectious Diseases Act 1988. He told reporters this after launching the Asia Dermatology & Aesthetic Medicine Summit 2022 in the capital today.

Several countries including the United Kingdom have done away with mandatory quarantine as they move towards endemicity.

When asked about dishonesty among workers who claimed that they tested positive for Covid-19 to avoid going to work, Khairy said it was a matter of integrity.

“Right now, it’s all based on one’s integrity. When we entered the transition into the endemic phase, we handed over the responsibility to the people. So, this is our headway, and we need to be honest in whatever we report, it all depends on the integrity of a person,” said Khairy. – September 24, 2022.