KJ tests negative, to quarantine following 'close contact' with Covid-19 patient

 

Science, Technology, and Innovation Minister Khairy Jamaluddin is undergoing quarantine at home following close contact with a Covid-19 patient.

In a post on his official Twitter account today, he said he has been issued a home surveillance order to quarantine himself for 10 days.

“Did a PCR test and the result came back negative. Will update if status changes since I volunteered at the World Trade Centre Kuala Lumpur (WTCKL) Vaccine Administration Centre (PPV) over the weekend,” he said.

Khairy did not disclose the circumstances surrounding his close contact, but sources told Malaysiakini that it involved a WTCKL official.

Earlier at his weekly press conference on the nation’s vaccination programme, which is conducted virtually, Khairy also brandished his pink wristband at his camera to show that he is being quarantined.

The wristband shows the quarantine period to be from May 15 to 24, but Khairy said he was just issued the quarantine order today.

WTCKL is currently being used as the venue of the largest vaccination centre (PPVs) in the country with its capacity to administer more than 8,100 doses of the AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccine per day.

Khairy was seen visiting the centre over the weekend and even helped with the registration process, amid complaints of congestion as the PPV increased its capacity over the Hari Raya Aidilfitri break beginning May 15.

Malaysiakini is contacting WTCKL for a response. Its director Irmohizam Ibrahim referred Malaysiakini’s questions to the CEO Mohd Yusri Junos instead.

Meanwhile, Health Ministry director-general Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah said there are currently no signs of a Covid-19 cluster developing at WTCKL.

However, he said investigations are still underway.

For the record, Khairy has already completed his Covid-19 vaccination. He received the second dose of the vaccine developed by Sinovac on April 8 at Rembau Hospital.

A vaccination is considered complete two weeks after the second dose is administered. - Mkini