PUTRAJAYA: A man who had arrived from Sabah at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) skipped the Health Ministry’s screening counter upon arrival, despite it being a requirement.
Health director-general Tan Sri Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah said according to procedures, all arrivals from Sabah should be registered at the counter at the airport where they will be given a wristband and a Home Surveillance Order (HSO).
“The individual however skipped the counter process and proceeded to travel home, ” said Dr Noor Hisham at the ministry’s Covid-19 press conference here on Friday (Nov 20).
The man, a 64-year-old, later tested positive for Covid-19 in Kinta, Perak.
Subsequently, four of the man’s social contacts have tested positive for the virus, and the ministry has classified the infections as a cluster named "Bah Bercham".
Dr Noor Hisham said the man had taken a Covid-19 test in Sabah three days before the flight and the results came back negative then.
He said this could have been a reason why the man thought he did not need to go to the counter at the airport.
“However, even if you have taken a Covid-19 test and you have tested negative, you are still required to wear a wristband and must undergo home quarantine for 14 days. This is required of all arrivals from Sabah, ” he said.
Dr Noor Hisham said 7% of Covid-19 cases involving returnees from Sabah only tested positive on the 13th day.
