PUTRAJAYA: Action can be taken against employers who do not allow their workers who have been classified as a Covid-19 contact to undergo home quarantine.
Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Adham Baba (pic) said such employers are subject to action under the Prevention and Control of Infectious Diseases Act or Act 342.
He said employers must allow their employees to undergo self-quarantine as required after being deemed a close contact and taking a swab test.
“There is a provision under Act 342 in which the employer can be penalised if they still insist on asking their employee to physically attend work, even if they are supposed to be isolated at home.
“Workers who have been classified as a close contact will be under the home surveillance order for 10 days and they will be given quarantine wristbands.
“If their swab test comes out negative, they must still remain under isolation for 10 days, ” he said at the weekly joint press conference with National Covid-19 Immunisation Programme coordinating minister Khairy Jamaluddin.
With the increasing number of symptomatic Covid-19 patients, Dr Adham said people must immediately test themselves and avoid contact with others should they develop symptoms.
“The number of symptomatic Covid-19 positive patients has increased by 50% in the past month. This was in contrast with the situation back in March, when symptomatic cases were only 21% out of all positive cases.
“Therefore, if you start having symptoms, such as fever or losing your sense of taste or smell, you need to immediately isolate yourself and get tested. Do not go and meet other people before you receive your Covid-19 test result, ” he said.
“Stay at home and wait for the district health clinic to contact you. In the meantime, conduct self-checks as instructed by the health assessment tool on MySejahtera.”
On the latest Covid-19 case indicator, Dr Adham said the weekly average of coronavirus deaths between May 2 and May 8 was 136.
This is an increase of 43.2% from the week between April 25 and May 1, when the weekly average was 95.
On hospital capacity, Dr Adham said the total usage of beds for Covid-19 cases was at 67% nationwide.
The number of intensive care unit beds being occupied is currently at 68%.
There are now 429 active Covid-19 clusters. In the week between May 2 and May 8, there were 106 new clusters.
Out of the 106, workplace outbreaks were the ones contributing the most with 44 new clusters. - Star
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