KUALA LUMPUR, Mar 16 — National hammer throw record holder Jackie Wong Siew Cheer has tested positive for Covid-19 today.
The news was confirmed by Malaysian Athletics Federation president Datuk SM Muthu to Bernama.
Jackie is one of Malaysia’s most consistent athletes breaking the national record 17 times. The latest was in last August during the Malaysian Closed Athletics Championships.
The 28-year-old’s throw of 68.22m at the National Sports Complex Training Track here shattered his previous record of 67.31m, set at the South Korea Championships in June 2019.
In light of the news, Youth and Sports Minister Datuk Sri Reezal Merican Naina Merican ordered the sports and training facilities at both the Nationals Sports Institute (NSI) and National Sports Complex (NSC) to be closed for sanitisation.
Reezal also advised all athletes and coaches who have been in close contact with Jackie to be separated from the rest and undergo self quarantine in their hostels at Bukit Jalil.
“Jackie Wong has been diagnosed with Covid-19. He is believed to have contracted it from his father who was also diagnosed with Covid-19,” Rizal said in a statement explaining further that Jackie returned to Sarawak in Mar 11 and is now quarantined in Sibu Hospital.
“As a precautionary measure for the safety and health of athletes of various sports, I have directed that the facilities at NSC and NSI that were visited by the athlete be closed temporarily for the purposes of full-sanitization process. This process is expected to be completed within 2 to 3 days,” said Reezal.
“In collaboration with the Ministry of Health (MOH) advice and directives — athletes, coaches and staff who have been in close contact with the athlete will be separated to self-quarantine in the hostel, to undergo screening and to follow MOH further advice accordingly,” he added.
