Brunei govt announces that mandatory self-isolation due to Covid-19 to be scrapped

Brunei Minister at the Prime Minister’s Office Dato Seri Setia Dr Awang Mohd Amin Liew (right) and Minister of Health Dato Seri Setia Dr Mohd Isham Jaafar at the press conference held at Ministry of Health, Commonwealth Drive on Monday (Feb 6). - Borneo Bulletin/ANN

BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN, Feb 6 (Borneo Bulletin/ANN): With the consent of Brunei king Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah, the Covid-19 Steering Committee on Monday announced the latest amendments to Covid-19 control measures, which will commence on Wednesday, Feb 15.

According to a statement read by the Minister at the Prime Minister’s Office and Minister of Finance and Economy II Dato Seri Setia Dr Awang Mohd Amin Liew Abdullah on behalf of the Steering Committee during a press conference held at the Ministry of Health, Infectious Diseases Act Cap 204 will no longer be the basis for mandatory isolation for positive cases of Covid-19.

With these amendments, anyone with a positive Antigen Rapid Test (ART) is encouraged to upload their ART results to the BruHealth app. However, Quarantine Order will no longer be issued and is replaced with Self Isolation Advice.

The use of the purple code in the BruHealth app will be maintained. However, its usage will only be for verification and as a Medical Certificate, and not for mandatory self-isolation.

Currently, positive cases are required to undergo mandatory self-isolation for five to ten days, which is subject to ART results after the fifth day.

Covid-19-positive cases are only advised to undergo self-isolation for a period of three to five days only. Those who opt to self-isolate can end their self-isolation after the fifth day or at any time after they are tested negative after the third day.

Close contacts of Covid-19 cases are no longer required to undergo self-isolation and as such, the red code on the BruHealth app will no longer be in use. However, anyone with symptoms is advised to do their ART.

Physical distancing according to the width of prayer mats (large size) for Fardhu prayers in congregation and Friday prayer at the mosques are no longer required and the use of own prayer mats is not mandatory.

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Health will update and implement control measures at hospitals and clinics (including private hospitals and clinics) as follows: Visitors are no longer required to do an ART before visiting inpatients in the wards and the use of face masks is only mandatory in clinical areas.

Other control measures are still maintained as follows: ART will still be done for patients being admitted to the hospital for treatment; Patients with Covid-19 will be treated in designated isolation wards.

Ministry of Health’s Weekly Press Conference will only be held if and when required and will no longer be held regularly every week. However, specific information on Covid-19 will continue to be shared through the media. - Borneo Bulletin/ANN