SIBU, Sept 27: Standard operating procedure (SOP) monitoring teams comprising personnel from the Sibu Divisional Disaster Management Committee (SDDMC), Sibu Divisional Health Office and the police would be conducting spot checks on persons under home quarantine.
SDDMC in a statement yesterday said the purpose of the home visits is to ensure that those under home quarantine orders are at the specified address at all times during their quarantine period.
The quarantine period for individuals who have close contact with positive cases but have no symptoms is 10 days.
The spot checks are also intended to help curb the spread of Covid-19 infections.
“The number of people under Home Surveillance and Observation Order (HSO) from January to September 25 is 1,628,” SDDMC said
The committee revealed that on September 25, a Sibu Divisional Health Office monitoring team found a Covid-19 patient absent from the address specified during a visit.
“The patient was found to have violated the Quarantine Order by the Authorised Officer under Section 14, Prevention and Control of Infectious Diseases Act, 1988. His action is tantamount to destroying efforts to reduce the potential spread of Covid-19 infections within the Sibu community,” SDDMC said.
The committee disclosed the Sibu Divisional Health Office will take stern action against the patient under Section 22 (b) of the Infectious Diseases Prevention and Control Act, 1988.
The offence provides for a compound of RM5,000.
Individuals who fail to pay the compound will be prosecuted in court where the first offense is punishable by imprisonment for a term not exceeding two years, or a fine, or both.
“The patients are only allowed to visit a clinic or hospital if they are unwell and need medical treatment,” SDDMC said. — DayakDaily
