KOTA KINABALU – Covid-19 patients who are told to observe home quarantine should be closely supervised, said Malaysian Medical Association (MMA) president Prof Datuk Dr Subramaniam Muniandy.
“Designated quarantine centres are still the best (place for patients to be quarantined in), but the cost is a prohibiting factor for some. The MMA believes the enforcement agencies will execute their job efficiently,” he told The Vibes.
He said that strict enforcement is important to prevent the spread of the virus.
“If there is slack (in the enforcement), then society will be put at risk.”
Muniandy said the Health Ministry cannot rule out the increased risk of the virus spreading to family members and close contacts of the patient should they not be monitored.
His comments follows Health director-general Tan Sri Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah's confirmation that Covid-19 patients who show minor symptoms or no symptoms should be quarantined at home.
He said this is due logistics issues, such as transporting a high number of positive cases, which is also a challenge in Sabah.
He was also quoted in the Malay Mail as saying that there are more than 1,000 foreign workers who have tested positive, but do not have a place to self-isolate at this time.
Despite attempts since December 18 to confirm this is happening in the state with Sabah official Covid-19 spokesman Datuk Seri Masidi Manjun, The Vibes has yet to get a response. – The Vibes, December 28, 2020
