Why You Should Self-Quarantine Even If You Test Negative
Cases recently cropped up again in several areas in Klang Valley and Sabah.
By Tamara Jayne — 28 Sep 2020, 11:56 AM
COVID-19 numbers have increased yet again, as more areas in the Klang Valley, including shopping malls, have reported new cases
A number of cases were at NU Sentral, Sunway Pyramid, The Linc KL, and Suria KLCC.
Meanwhile, all travellers from Sabah and those who have had close contact with infected patients are required to undergo mandatory swab tests.
If you have gone through the swab test, you are required to stay at home and wait for the test results
Last week, 22 September, Defence Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob announced that Sabah returnees who test negative will not need to quarantine.
And on 26 September, Health director-general Tan Sri Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah said that from 27 September to 10 October, travellers will need to quarantine for 14 days until their tests are ready.
According to Malaysiakini, he made the announcement following several cases involving those returning from Sabah.
If you test negative but have cold or flu symptoms, you should still stay home until you recover.
But what if you test negative and show no symptoms?
Asymptomatic cases (those who show no symptoms) have been previously reported, including those in Malaysia.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) notes that even if a person tests negative, it does not guarantee they will not become ill.
"If you test negative, you probably were not infected at the time your sample was collected. The test result only means that you did not have COVID-19 at the time of testing.
"Even if you have a negative test, you should still self-isolate for 14 days."
Given that there is no vaccine for COVID-19 yet, continue to be responsible and take extra precautions during this time
As long as there are still cases in Malaysia every day, the pandemic is not over yet.
