DG: Some students who violated conditions down with Covid-19

PUTRAJAYA: Several tertiary students who violated a 14-day mandatory self-quarantine after being allowed to go home were found to be positive for Covid-19.

Health director-general Datuk Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah said this posed a risk to the higher risk groups such as the elderly, children, and those with a history of chronic diseases.

“We urge everyone to learn a lesson from this case,” he said yesterday.

Dr Noor Hisham said the Higher Education Ministry has allowed a total of 49,019 students to return to their families since April 27.

Those crossing state borders in peninsular Malaysia were required to undergo self-quarantine at home, while those who were going back to Sabah or Sarawak needed to get tested for the disease.

Sarawakians are also required to self-quarantine as per Section 14 of the Infectious Disease Prevention and Control Act, 1988 (Act 342).

Noor Hisham said 47 new Covid19 cases were reported yesterday, bringing the total number of infections in the country to 6,941.

Of the 47 new cases, 21 were imported while 26 were local transmissions.

Of the local transmissions, 17 were detected among foreigners.

He also said 44 patients were discharged in the same 24-hour span, which means 5,615 patients have recovered from Covid-19 in Malaysia since the outbreak began, giving a recovery rate of 80.9% against a backdrop of 1,213 active cases.

A total of 13 positive cases are being treated in intensive care units, with six needing ventilator support.

There were no new deaths recorded, with the death toll remaining at 113.