In case you did not know, on the 19th of April 2022, our former health minister Khairy Jamaluddin stated that asymptomatic Covid-19 close contacts will no longer be required to undergo obligatory quarantine. Even if they have not been vaccinated, they do not need to self-isolate themselves no more. This is the announcement made by him during a press conference.

No Quarantine For Asymptomatic Covid-19 Close Contact Anymore

Previously, only close contacts who had obtained booster vaccinations and were asymptomatic were permitted to bypass the isolation period. The new regulation becomes effective on the 22nd of April 2022. Khairy Jamaluddin stated in a news conference that close contacts without symptoms do not need to be quarantined, regardless of vaccination status.

Can Close Contact Go To Work?

Essentially, it means that if you are a working adult, you do not need to be quarantined anymore if you are asymptomatic Covid-19 close contacts. So no more excuse to stay at home and chill and watch Netflix on the pretext that you are a close contact. This is a welcome adjustment as a lot of lazy and irresponsible workers and employees have abused this "loophole".

Can Close Contact Go To School?

Likewise, students who are attending primary and secondary school can go to their respective schools for lessons as long as they are asymptomatic Covid-19 close contacts. This is brilliant news as students do not need to miss physical classes anymore. The same applies to college and university students beginning from the 22nd of April.

Prior to this, close contacts who had gotten booster vaccinations and had symptoms were required to remain in quarantine for five days. Close contacts who were fully immunised but not boosted were also required to endure a five-day isolation period, whilst those who were not fully immunised were required to be quarantined for seven days. The period of quarantine for positive cases stays at seven days.

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