SOP must be strictly followed, advise experts

PETALING JAYA: Medical experts are advising Malaysians returning from overseas to strictly follow home quarantine regulations that will be enforced starting Wednesday.

“It would be wise and responsible for those returning from overseas to quarantine to protect others should they start developing symptoms within the 14-day period, ” said Universiti Malaya consultant psychiatrist Assoc Prof Dr Amer Siddiq Amer Nordin.

He cautioned that the risk of infection was still present within the 14-day incubation period.

While Malaysia’s decision on the matter could help ease government’s burden and cost to families who need to pay for quarantine accommodation, Malaysian Public Health Physicians’ Association president Datuk Dr Zainal Ariffin Omar said it would be a problem for those staying in a small unit.

“There is a problem for those living in small houses, faced both by urban and rural households.

“I believe government agencies need to be on the alert to ensure that the enforcement is being followed through, ” he said.

He said the role of the community was to alert the authorities should they know of anyone flouting the quarantine rules.

Consultant paediatrician Datuk Dr Musa Mohd Nordin suggested that those returning from high-risk countries be subjected to mandatory quarantine, particularly those returning from Indonesia, which formed 75% of returnees which tested positive for Covid-19.

“The other 10% who have tested positive for Covid-19 were from Singapore and 9% from Britain, so we need to be particularly vigilant of returnees from these countries.”

Dr Musa encouraged the government to emulate the strict self-quarantine rules enforced in South Korea where local returnees and foreign visitors were closely monitored using a mobile application that could track their whereabouts and store information about their symptoms.

Wan Mohd Haffiz Wan Hussin, who is an engineering student in Britain and plans to travel back to Malaysia next month, said he had discussed with his family about his self-isolation at home.

“There will be a separate room for my quarantine, away from other family members.

“I’ll be staying at my in-laws. There are eight adults and three kids in the household, so I have to stay in a secluded room for everyone’s safety, ” said Wan Mohd Haffiz, 34.

Businessman Chong Ming Huei, who has been in Singapore since before the movement control order, plans to return to Malaysia soon.

“I’ve been waiting for the MCO to be lifted to avoid the 14-day mandatory quarantine at the centres.

“I feel more comfortable quarantined at home where I can move about and at least water my plants.”

Chong said he would be staying alone and that his brother to help him stock up on groceries before his arrival.