KUALA LUMPUR: There will be no changes to the Health Ministry’s Covid-19 quarantine rules – at least until the end of the year, says its minister Khairy Jamaluddin.
Currently, individuals who test positive for Covid-19 are required to undergo seven days of home quarantine, but they can be released if they test negative on the fourth day.
“One of the reasons why we are able to keep the pandemic under control today is the people’s adherence to these quarantine rules.
“When a person tests positive, they isolate themselves for seven days. If they test negative on the fourth day, they can be released.
“For now, we will maintain this until the end of the year when Act 342 is no longer enforced,” Khairy told reporters here when asked to comment on the decision by certain countries to remove mandatory quarantines due to concerns about the lack of manpower at workplaces.Earlier, Khairy launched the Asia Dermatology & Aesthetic Medicine Summit (Adams) 2022 here.
The minister also stressed the need for increased enforcement against beauty centres administering invasive medical procedures.
“While aesthetic clinics are under our ministry’s jurisdiction, beauty centres fall under the purview of the Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Ministry.
“For the aesthetics industry, we already have a guideline. But our concerns are on beauty centres that are not under our purview.
“The Health Ministry and Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Ministry constantly have discussions with each other to ensure procedures conducted at beauty centres are not medical and are not invasive procedures involving skin penetration.
“We have received many complaints from customers about procedures done on them by unscrupulous centres, and this needs to be looked into seriously,” he added.
Khairy said his ministry received 103 complaints against aesthetics service providers from January to August this year.
Meanwhile, in a light moment with reporters, he joked that the uncertainty surrounding his election candidacy was among the “concerns” bothering him going into the 15th General Election (GE15).
Khairy was asked by a reporter what the “concerns”, besides floods, that were discussed in Wednesday’s Cabinet meeting regarding GE15.
“Concerns? I still have no seat to contest in,” Khairy replied, triggering laughter among the reporters.
The presser then ended without him elaborating.
The Rembau MP is speculated to be moving to a different constituency in GE15.
This was after it was made known that Umno deputy president Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan, who is Rembau division chief, is eyeing the parliamentary seat.
The former Negri Sembilan mentri besar is the assemblyman for Rantau and is looking to move to a federal seat in GE15.
