LEST we forget, the operation of the Prevention and Control of Infectious Diseases (Declaration of Infected Local Areas (Extension of Operation)) Order 2022 has been further extended for a period from January 1 to June 30, 2023.

The declaration is pursuant to Health Minister Dr Zaliha Mustafa having been satisfied that all states and Federal Territories are threatened with an epidemic of an infectious disease, ie Covid-19, a life-threatening microbial infection, as specified in part I of the first schedule to the Prevention and Control of Infectious Diseases Act 1988.

This means that the whole of the country remains threatened by Covid-19. This in turn means that the Prevention and Control of Infectious Diseases (Measures within Infected Local Areas) (National Recovery Plan) (Transition Phase to Endemic) Regulations 2022, which came into operation on April 1, 2022, remains applicable to the whole country.

The regulations empower the health director-general (DG) to:

• determine any prohibited activity (reg. 4);
• prohibit procession (reg. 5);
• control gathering (reg. 6);
• restrict the numbers of passengers on public transport (reg. 14); and
• issue any directions and conditions in any manner, whether generally or specifically, to any person or group of persons to take such measures for the purpose of preventing and controlling any infectious diseases within any infected local area (reg. 17).

Any directions and conditions issued by the DG relating to the above matters must be published on the website of the National Security Council (NSC).

In short, the DG is the main authority to issue directions and conditions constituting measures to control and/or prevent the spread of Covid-19.

We need to hear from the new health DG, Dr Muhammad Radzi Abu Hassan, given that 12 cases of Covid-19 XBB.1.16 subvariant, better known as Arcturus, have been reported in Malaysia, notwithstanding the fact that patients suffer only mild symptoms and are in stable condition.

Zaliha said of the total, six cases were detected in Sarawak, four in Selangor and two in Kuala Lumpur.

According to the minister, the strain, which is a subvariant of Omicron, was formed as a result of the combination or recombinant variant BA.2.10.1 and BA.2.75 and, as of April 2, it has been detected in at least 31 countries around the world, including Malaysia.

First detected in January this year, the Arcturus variant has been elevated by the World Health Organization as a new variant of interest.

Let’s hear from the new health DG. Schools are supposed to reopen on May 2.

What’s up, doc? – April 29, 2023.

* Hafiz Hassan reads The Malaysian Insight.

* This is the opinion of the writer or publication and does not necessarily represent the views of The Malaysian Insight. Article may be edited for brevity and clarity.