MOH mulls using law against those who bring kids, elderly to public places

CORONAVIRUS | The Health Ministry (MOH) is considering imposing punitive action on those who bring children and the elderly to public places without proper reason.

This is as these two age groups have a high risk of contracting Covid-19.

The ministry’s director-general Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah shared that the proposal had already been discussed by the National Security Council, the body that coordinates the government’s response to the virus outbreak.

“For now, the ministry will give advice. The advice is to not bring children or the elderly to public places like supermarkets and hospitals unless they have an appointment.

“But we may take action under Act 342 (Prevention and Control of Infectious Diseases Act 1988) where one can be fined or taken to court,” he cautioned.

The Act stipulates a fine of up to RM1,000 and imprisonment of up to six months for those convicted.

Worker ‘tags’ unfeasible

Noor Hisham was less enthusiastic about the idea of issuing “tags” to migrant workers who had been tested for Covid-19.

Just because someone tested negative for the virus once does not mean they are immune to it, he said. 

“The tests only (show results) for the moment you are tested. You can still be exposed to Covid-19 in the community next week or the week after. And the exposure could cause you to become infected,” he said when asked about the idea today.

He cautioned against using such tags as “passes”.

On Monday, Defence Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob said the government and the Human Resources Ministry were mulling over getting employers to provide tags to identify workers who had been tested positive or negative for Covid-19.

Noor Hisham opined that the present practice of issuing letters on test results was sufficient.  - Mkini