Two MPs still under quarantine, will not attend Dewan Rakyat tomorrow

CORONAVIRUS | The Dewan Rakyat sitting tomorrow will see two MPs short as they are still under quarantine after coming in close contact with Covid-19 patients.

Health Ministry director-general Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah today revealed that they were among 10 people who could not attend the Parliament screening for Covid-19.

Noor Hisham, however, did not disclose the names of the MPs.

He said the remaining eight who did not turn up for testing were Parliament staff.

In total, Noor Hisham said the Health Ministry tested 950 out of 960 people comprising MPs and parliamentary staffers and all came back negative.

Malaysiakini understands that the two MPs have undergone separate testing in the quarantine centre. While their results came out negative, they were still being held at the centre.

Previously, several MPs were tested positive for Covid-19. They included Kota Samarahan MP Rubiah Wang, Sarikei MP Andrew Wong and Bandar Kuching MP Kelvin Yii. 

Meanwhile, Noor Hisham said the high-risk groups are children aged 12 and below and senior citizens aged 60 and above.

Hence, he advised individuals in this age group to avoid going to public places especially hospitals.

"If possible, don't bring the children aged 12 and below and those aged 60 and above, especially those who have a chronic illness, to public places, especially hospitals," he said.

In another matter related to Covid-19, Noor Hisham (photo) said the ministry has 22 plasma packs donated by nine patients who have recovered from Covid-19.

"So far we have nine patients who have donated the plasma for research as well as to be used by patients. We have 22 plasma packs ready. Each pack contains 250ml," he said, adding that the plasma would also be distributed to Sabah and Sarawak.

Previously, Noor Hisham said that the plasma could be used for patients who are on Stage 5, but stressed that the usage of plasma for the Covid-19 patients is still at an early stage of research. 

On the World Health Organisation (WHO) clinical trial on Remdesivir drugs, he said while the ministry received the drugs for 100 patients under category four and five, the number of those patients have already decreased.

"The same goes for those under the intensive care unit," he added.

Early this month, Noor Hisham said the ministry was aiming to get 100 patients to participate in the trial.  - Mkini