Withholding Covid-19 information is an offence, says Ismail Sabri

 

Senior Minister (Security Cluster) Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob today warned that action can be taken against schools that failed to report Covid-19 cases to the Health Ministry. - KHIS/HAZREEN MOHAMAD

KUALA LUMPUR: Senior Minister (Security Cluster) Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob today warned that action can be taken against schools that failed to report Covid-19 cases to the Health Ministry.

He said such a matter was considered an offence under the Prevention and Control of Infectious Diseases Act 1988 (Act 342).

He was replying to a question on alleged instructions given to schools to withhold information of Covid-19 cases from the Health Ministry.

"The Education Ministry will be the best to clarify any directive related to schools. But it is an offence for any party to withhold information from the Health Ministry.

"For example, some factories have been fined for not informing the ministry on Covid-19 cases involving their workers.

"So, it is compulsory for every individual, employer, as well as school managements, to report to the Health Ministry upon the emergence of cases."

On a related matter, Ismail Sabri said the decision to lift interstate travel ban would be made based on recommendations by the Health Ministry.

"As we all know, interstate travel is one of the factors that had led to the increase in Covid-19 infections. Currently, we have 32 clusters linked to interstate travels."

He cited several examples of cases involving interstate travels such as in Sarawak and Kelantan.

"Sarawak was green but now have numerous orange and red zones after interstate travel was allowed. Another example in Kelantan, which saw spikes in cases after people returned to their hometown there in December."

"Sixty-five per cent of Kelantan became red zones and we had to place the state under the Movement Control Order."

He was answering to a question whether the interstate travel ban would be lifted during Aidilfitri celebration.

"The Health Ministry had projected that daily cases will drop to 500 in May, so for those who wish to return to their hometowns, continue to adhere to the SOP, by doing so insyallah, cases will decline faster than expected." - NST