The Ministry of Health (MOH) has shortened the 14-day mandatory quarantine to 10 days for travellers returning from abroad and close contacts of COVID-19 positive cases
Health director-general Tan Sri Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah wrote in a statement on 13 December that the decision was made after reviewing the current situation in Malaysia and clinical reports from other countries.
He said that countries such as the United Kingdom, Germany, and Belgium have reduced their quarantine period to 10 days.
“Meanwhile, mandatory quarantine in France is only for seven days,” he added.
Noor Hisham said that the latest review of clinical scientific evidence has found that the risk of post-quarantine infection will decrease during the quarantine period
“The infection rate is at its highest during the first week of exposure.”
Image via The Straits Times
The MOH will conduct second COVID-19 screenings on the eighth or ninth day after the change
Previously, the second tests took place on the 13th day of the 14-day quarantine period.
“If the test results are negative, we will release them on the 10th day,” he said during a live conference on 14 December.
The changes will take effect from 14 December and apply to those who are isolated in quarantine centres or at home.
Image via Malay Mail