‘Home quarantine woman’ spotted at eatery
IPOH: The Perak Health Department is probing a viral picture allegedly of a Person Under Surveillance (PUS) having a meal at a restaurant in Bandar Meru Raya here.
Its director, Datuk Dr Ding Lay Ming, said the department acknowledged the matter and that the person had failed to undergo home quarantine under the Home Surveillance Order (HSO).
“We will not hesitate to take legal action against the person who failed to comply with the order,” she said yesterday.
The order falls under the Prevention and Control of Infectious Diseases Act 1988 (Act 342), which stipulates that if an individual is found to have violated the ruling, he could see action taken against him under Section 24.
In the picture, a woman with a pink wristband is seen having a meal at a restaurant.
Dr Ding said those under HOS were reminded to comply with the Health Ministry’s order.
Since June 10, overseas returnees no longer needed to undergo the mandatory 14-day quarantine at designated centres.
They can now undergo home quarantine regardless of whether they tested positive or negative upon returning to the country.
Those under home quarantine are given a wristband that can only be removed once they complete the isolation period and after testing negative on the 13th day of their quarantine.
The prime minister’s special advisor on public health, Tan Sri Dr Jemilah Mahmood, said it was people like the person in the viral picture that increased the nation’s risk of a second wave of Covid-19 infections.
“Shame on you ms (sic) and shame on your friends/family & cafe who allowed her in & didn’t report when she was supposed to be in quarantine,” she tweeted.
Dr Jemilah said stricter measures were needed as Covid-19 was still out there.