Police to begin arresting, charging returnees who skip second Covid-19 test
Come Monday, the police will begin arresting and charging overseas returnees who have yet to come forward for a second Covid-19 test.
In a statement today, Defence Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob urged the 2,897 returnees in question to undergo the test immediately...
Overseas returnees who have yet to undergo a mandatory second Covid-19 test on the 13th day of their home quarantine period have the next two days to comply with the order or risk arrest and a court charge.
In a statement today, Defence Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob urged the 2,897 returnees in question to undergo the test immediately.
“Beginning next Monday (July 27), the police will take action by arresting and charging the 2,897 individuals who have yet to come forward for a second test on their 13th day under home quarantine.
“The individuals in question are to contact their nearest district health office (PKD) to undergo the second test,” he cautioned.
Ismail also said that Health Ministry officials and the police will be performing “spot-checks” on the 9,600 returnees presently under home quarantine to monitor adherence to standard operating procedures (SOP).
Starting yesterday (July 24), the government stopped allowing arrivals to observe their 14-day quarantine order at home but instead placed them at designated quarantine centres.
Unlike before, returnees now have to bear the full cost of their stay at these centres, which are often hotels.
This came after a rise in imported Covid-19 cases and clusters linked to them were detected.
As of yesterday, Ismail shared that 319 individuals had arrived from Indonesia, Singapore, Vietnam, Brunei, Qatar, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Hong Kong, India, United Arab Emirates, China and Australia.
Meanwhile, the National Security Council (MKN) shared on its Facebook page that the government has decided to “tighten SOPs that were previously loosened” due to the recent uptick in Covid-19 cases.
It did not elaborate on which SOPs these were.
The announcement also said that SOPs for Hari Raya Aidiladha and ship crews will be decided in a special meeting among Cabinet ministers this Monday (July 27).
Hari Raya Aidiladha falls on July 31.
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