[UPDATED] New Covid-19 quarantine rules: 7-day isolation for fully vaxxed, asymptomatic patients

KUALA LUMPUR – Quarantine rules have been updated for those who tested positive for Covid-19 and their close contacts, especially those who are fully vaccinated and asymptomatic, are now required to isolate for only seven days.

According to the Health Ministry, Covid-19 patients who are fully vaccinated and not showing symptoms will have to undergo a seven-day isolation while those who are not fully jabbed will have to stick to the 10-day quarantine.

Meanwhile, close contacts who have gotten their booster shots will be isolated for five days and the unvaccinated and those with only two doses will have to spend seven days in quarantine.

These changes will be effective tomorrow.

“These procedures will come into effect on Sunday and will apply to those currently undergoing isolation and quarantine as well.

“Existing procedures for the management of travellers arriving in Malaysia are still in use.

“Based on science, data, and experiences from other nations concerning the management of positive Covid-19 cases and close contacts of confirmed cases, MoH conducted reassessments concerning the length of surveillance and observation as indicated,” Health Minister Khairy Jamaluddin said in a statement.  

Patients will be allowed to isolate at home if conditions and surroundings are conducive to quarantine, or they will otherwise be brought to a government Covid-19 quarantine and treatment centre. 

Khairy said close contacts who begin to suffer from symptoms should get themselves tested using the RTK-Antigen method either at home or at a health facility.

Those who test themselves at home must input the results into their MySejahtera app, he added.

Alternatively, close contacts who remain asymptomatic are required to get tested on the last day of their quarantine, which depending on their vaccination status, would mean on day five or day seven of isolation.

The final test at the end of the quarantine period must be conducted at a health facility, he said.

“They will be then given a release order on the same day of the test results if they test negative and remain asymptomatic.”

He also urged Malaysians to get their Covid-19 booster shots to achieve optimal protection against the virus, especially considering the increased infectivity rate of the Omicron variant. – The Vibes, January 15, 2022