The Ministry of Health (MOH) has released 12 standard operating procedures (SOP) for Ministers who will be travelling abroad.
This comes after Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Adham Baba’s announcement that Ministers only need to quarantine for three days after returning from overseas trips.
Here’s the list
- The visit must be an official affair
- The schedule of events must be brief
- Ministers must only be accompanied by a small group of delegates who must undergo the Covid-19 test
- Ministers must not have any symptoms
- Ministers must test negative for Covid-19 48 hours before departure
- Ministers must use a special working airplane instead of a commercial airplane, to create a “travel bubble”
- It is mandatory for Ministers to undergo a test as soon as they arrive at the airport
- Only Ministers who test negative for Covid-19 will be taken directly to the hotel accommodation
- Ministers are not allowed to travel alone or go to places other than official places
- Ministers will only be allowed in the living room
- Ministers must wear a face mask at all times while at the official places of visit
- No handshake, hugs or touching are allowed during the official visit
Yesterday (10 February), Health Director-General, Tan Sri Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah justified Adham Baba’s move, saying that the cabinet of ministers who return from any overseas shall undergo an observation period of three days OR undergo surveillance until they are discharged without posing danger to the public.
He added that the OR meant that the quarantine period could be either seven days, 14 days, or even 21 days. An application will be submitted to the Cabinet before the Minister leaves for their trip where it would be subject to the Cabinet’s approval.
“When the Cabinet approves, we would see the SOP timetable and also official events they would be attending. The timetables would be presented to both sides.”
Also read: “What’s the difference between my body & theirs?” Politicians Call Out 3-Day Quarantine Order
