PETALING JAYA: Eight Chinese nationals who arrived in Johor Baru from Singapore yesterday, have been placed under quarantine at a hotel there under the supervision of the Health Ministry.
Deputy Minister Dr Lee Boon Chye said all of them were fellow travellers with the 66-year-old Chinese male national from Wuhan who was confirmed yesterday as Singapore’s first case of an individual who tested positive for the imported novel coronavirus. The man arrived in Singapore on Jan 20.
According to Lee, all eight travellers need to be placed under isolation for at least a week in order to determine if they develop symptoms of the virus “because they have had contact with the patient who tested positive for coronavirus”.
Meanwhile, Health director-general Datuk Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah said that the eight individuals consist of four adults, and four children.
“On Jan 23, Singapore reported a case of a novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) involving a 66-year-old Chinese citizen from Wuhan,” said Noor Hismam.
“Following the information, the Singapore Health Ministry contacted its Malaysian counterparts (MoH), to inform that the coronavirus victim was in contact with the eight individuals who are currently in Johor Baru, Malaysia.
“Upon receiving this information, the Johor State Department of Health (JKN) acted quickly and located the contacts and conducted health screening to check their health status.”
Hisham, however, said tests conducted on the individuals revealed that they are healthy and in no way are exhibiting symptoms of the virus.
“Clinical samples have also been taken from these contacts for the 2019-nCoV detection test and the Johor State Health Department will continue to monitor their health daily for up to 14 days or until they return to their home country whichever comes first” he said.
Hisham also confirmed that until today (Jan 24), no confirmed cases of Wuhan virus have been reported to JKN Johor, nor to MOH.
