Moh Shortens Covid 19 Quarantine Period Starting Tomorrow

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The Health Ministry is introducing shortened quarantine rules for Covid-19 patients and their close contacts starting tomorrow.
The new rules are also applicable to people who are already in quarantine when it comes into effect.
“Based on data, science, and experience of other countries in managing Covid-19 cases and their close contacts, the Health Ministry has reviewed the monitoring period and made the latest determinations,” said Health Minister Khairy Jamaluddin, without elaboration.
However, several other countries have shortened Covid-19 quarantine periods as well, which in some cases have drawn criticism from health experts when it is deemed too short, especially if a negative antigen test is not required for release.
Under the new rules, Covid-19 positive cases who are fully vaccinated and asymptomatic are required to quarantine for seven days.
Those who are partly vaccinated, unvaccinated, or have symptoms are required to quarantine for 10 days.
The rules are applicable regardless of the Covid-19 variant involved. A health assessment will be conducted before being released from quarantine.
For comparison, the existing guidelines for home quarantine of Covid-19 cases stipulate that they may be released after at least 10 days have passed since the onset of symptoms, at least 24 hours have passed since any fever has been resolved without the use of medication, and other symptoms have improved.
Those who are asymptomatic may be released after 10 days from their first Covid-19 positive test result. This is based on the date the test is taken, not when results become available.
Meanwhile, the quarantine rules for international arrivals remain unchanged.
As for close contacts of Covid-19 cases, the quarantine period has been reduced from seven or 10 days, to five or seven days, depending on vaccination status. In addition, the applicable rule depends on whether one has received a Covid-19 vaccine booster dose, rather than being fully vaccinated or not.
Those who have received their booster shots are to quarantine for five days. At the end of the quarantine period, they will undergo a rapid antigen test (RTK-Ag) under medical supervision at a government or private health facility.
In addition, they should perform a self-test or seek treatment at a medical facility if they experience symptoms. Self-test results should be reported through MySejahtera.
They will be released on Day 5 if they show no symptoms and test results are negative.
The rules for fully vaccinated, partially vaccinated, and unvaccinated close contacts are similar, except the test-and-release occurs on Day 7 of the quarantine.

Compared to the existing rules, the current rules introduced in October last year makes no mention of individuals who received their booster shots.
Instead, fully vaccinated close contacts are to quarantine for seven days and perform a Covid-19 test on Day 5.
Those who are partially vaccinated or unvaccinated are to quarantine for 10 days and perform a Covid-19 test on Day 8. - Mkini

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