KUALA LUMPUR: Fully vaccinated individuals who tested positive for Covid-19 will have to undergo a seven-day isolation period effective tomorrow, regardless of the coronavirus variant they were infected with.
Health Minister Khairy Jamaluddin said those with either incomplete vaccination, have not been inoculated with the Covid-19 vaccine or are symptomatic cases, will have to self-isolate for 10 full days.
"Their health condition will be assessed before they can be discharged from isolation," he said in a statement today.
Khairy said the ministry has implemented isolation orders on Covid-19 positive cases and quarantine for close contacts of Covid-19 positive cases under the Prevention and Control of Infectious Diseases Act 1988 [Act 342] to control the spread of the infection.
"Based on the data, science and experience of other countries pertaining to the management of Covid-19 cases and close contacts of positive cases (including those infected with the Omicron variant), the Health Ministry has re-evaluated the Observation and Surveillance Period and decided on the latest ruling."
He said close contacts of Covid-19 positive cases who have received their booster shots will be required to undergo a five-day mandatory quarantine.
A seven-day quarantine will, meanwhile, be imposed on close contacts who have been fully immunised, not fully-vaccinated or have not been vaccinated, he said.
"If they are symptomatic, they will have to undergo a Covid-19 infection detection test using RTK-Ag, either a self-test or at a nearby health facility for further treatment.
"The results of the self-test must be shared on MySejahtera. They will also have to undergo RTK-Ag testing either at government or private facilities on the fifth day (for the five-day quarantine period) and seventh day (for the seven-day quarantine period).
"They will be issued with a quarantine release order on the same day the RTK-Ag detection test is performed if the result is negative and they are asymptomatic.
"These will take effect on Sunday (Jan 16) and also applies to those who are currently undergoing isolation and quarantine. The existing procedures for travellers who have just arrived in Malaysia still apply."
Khairy added that the ministry has increased the preparedness of the healthcare system in the face of a possible increase in cases following the reporting of Omicron cases in the country.
"Therefore, the ministry recommends individuals who are eligible to receive the Covid-19 vaccine to obtain a booster dose to achieve the optimal level of protection and avoid the symptoms of severe Covid-19 infection and its complications."