Case No. 26 under scrutiny

PETALING JAYA: The Health Ministry is looking into the cases of two politicians who were exposed to a Covid-19 patient last week.

The former minister and his former deputy were said to be in close contact with an UDA Holdings Bhd board member, who is the country’s 26th Covid-19 patient.

“The Health Ministry refers to the information going viral on social media regarding two high-profile individuals allegedly suspected with Covid-19 infection relating to Case No. 26.

“The Ministry is currently investigating and appropriate measures will be undertaken, ” said Health director-general Datuk Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah in a press statement yesterday.

Case No. 26, he added, was reported on March 1, and the patient is undergoing treatment and monitoring in Hospital Sungai Buloh.

The patient is reported to be in a stable condition.

“Five close family members, one personal assistant to Case 26, and one private healthcare personnel had tested negative for Covid-19.

“The investigation and contact tracing activities are still ongoing, ” he said.

He said as of Monday, the cumulative number of Covid-19 cases in the country remains at 29.

“From the 29 confirmed cases, 22 have fully recovered and have been discharged, while seven are receiving treatment at several hospitals in the Klang Valley, ” he said, adding that they were all in stable condition.

A total of 221 people, Dr Noor Hisham added, were known to have had close contact with the seven Covid-19 cases still receiving treatment in Malaysian hospitals.

From these 221 close contacts, two were confirmed to be positive cases (which are Cases No. 27 and No. 29) while 74 were confirmed as negative.

“Another 82 cases are still pending lab results, while another 63 cases are currently in the process of sample collection, ” he added.

He urged the public not to circulate information about the Covid-19 cases that have not been authenticated by the ministry.

Members of the public, he said, should maintain good hygiene by frequent washing of hands with soap or by using hand sanitiser.

According to the ministry, only individuals categorised as close contacts of confirmed Covid-19 cases will be screened and their samples taken for testing.

These close contacts are defined as individuals with a history of being physically close to a confirmed Covid-19 case, meaning being within a one-metre radius of that person.

Individuals with a history of contact with suspected Covid-19 cases (that is, cases that have not been confirmed through lab tests), are not categorised as close contacts and samples will not be taken from them.

Those who wish to have further information on Covid-19, can contact the national Crisis Preparedness and Response Centre via its hotline [phone] or 03-888 10700, or email them at [e-mail].