Ismail Sabri: Those Under Home Quarantine Must Wear Monitoring Devices From Next Week
He said they will be for tracking purposes but gave no further elaboration.
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Individuals undergoing home quarantine must wear monitoring devices beginning next week, said Senior Minister (Security) Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob
In a National Security Council press conference on Tuesday, 4 May, Ismail Sabri said all those serving the Home Surveillance Order (HSO) will need to wear a device to track their movements.
He gave no further elaboration.
Image via Bernama/New Straits Times
However, the move comes in line with the Ministry of Health's (MOH) proposal for the use of electronic tracking devices, or tracking wristbands, since earlier this year
According to New Straits Times, in January, Health director-general Tan Sri Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah only confirmed the proposal was made, but did not comment on the outcome of the recommendation.
At the time, health professionals were hoping for the adoption of electronic tracking to give hospitals and other COVID-19 facilities breathing room from the surge in cases, while ensuring patients and close contacts remained at home for their mandatory quarantine.
Some form of COVID-19 digital surveillance has already been implemented around the world, including in Hong Kong, Taiwan, South Korea, and Singapore.
All incoming travellers to Singapore are required to wear an electronic wristband to track their whereabouts during home quarantine.
Image via The Straits Times
Ismail Sabri also said that a total of 195,229 individuals have arrived at Malaysia's border checkpoints since 24 July last year
During this period, 8,664 people underwent mandatory quarantine in hotels and public facilities, while 1,808 individuals were sent to hospitals for treatment.
A total of 184,757 individuals were allowed to return home to undergo their HSO.
Besides these persons under surveillance, suspected COVID-19 cases (persons under investigation) and confirmed COVID-19 patients with little to no symptoms have also been allowed to observe quarantine at home for 10 days.
Remember to limit your movement and keep practising physical distancing. Watch the latest update on the COVID-19 situation:
Six districts in Selangor will be undergoing a Movement Control Order (MCO) again from 6 May to 17 May:
Malaysia has been dealing with home quarantine violators since the second wave of COVID-19 last year:
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