APRIL 29 — Lest we forget, the operation of the Prevention and Control of Infectious Diseases (Declaration of Infected Local Areas (Extension of Operation) Order 2022 [P.U. (A) 214/2022] has been further extended for a period from January 1 to June 30, 2023.
The declaration of infected local areas is pursuant to the minister having been satisfied that all States and Federal Territories in Malaysia are threatened with an epidemic of an infectious disease namely Covid-19, a life-threatening microbial infection as specified in Part I of the First Schedule to the Prevention and Control of Infectious Diseases Act 1988 (Act 342).
This means, simply, that the whole of the country remains threatened with Covid-19. This in turn means that the Prevention and Control of Infectious Diseases (Measures within Infected Local Areas) (National Recovery Plan) (Transition Phase to Endemic) Regulations 2022, which came into operation on April 1, 2022, remains applicable to the whole country.
The Regulations, among others, empower the Health director-general (DG) to ―
• determine any prohibited activity (reg. 4);
• prohibit procession (reg. 5);
• control gathering (reg. 6);
• restrict the numbers of passengers on public transport (reg. 14); and
• issue any directions and conditions in any manner, whether generally or specifically, to any person or group of persons to take such measures for the purpose of preventing and controlling any infectious diseases within any infected local area (reg. 17).
Any directions and conditions issued by the D-G relating to the above matters must be published in the website of the National Security Council (NSC).
In short, the D-G is the main authority to issue directions and conditions constituting measures to control and/or prevent the spread of Covid-19 in the country.
We need to hear from the new Health D-G, Datuk Dr Muhammad Radzi Abu Hassan, given that 12 cases of Covid-19 XBB.1.16 subvariant, better known as the Arcturus variant, have been reported in Malaysia, notwithstanding that all the patients suffer only mild symptoms and are in stable condition.
Health Minister Dr Zaliha Mustafa said of the total, six cases were detected in Sarawak, four in Selangor and two in Kuala Lumpur.
According to her, the strain, which is a subvariant of Omicron, was formed as a result of the combination or recombinant variant BA.2.10.1 and BA.2.75 and as of April 2, it has been detected in at least 31 countries around the world, including Malaysia.
First detected in January this year, the Arcturus variant has been elevated by the World Health Organisation (WHO) as a new variant of interest.
So, let’s hear from the new Health D-G. Schools are reopening on May 2.
What’s up Doc?
* This is the personal opinion of the writer and does not necessarily represent the views of Malay Mail.
