Perak’s health department is investigating a woman who may have violated her quarantine order after she was spotted at a cafe in Ipoh wearing the COVID-19 quarantine wristband.
Director Ding Lay Ming stated that the health department is aware of the incident in which a person under COVID-19 surveillance was allegedly found to have violated quarantine measures.
A viral photo of the unidentified woman having a drink at the Bandar Meru Raya cafe and wearing the pink wristband on her right hand has been circulating online widely since yesterday.
“Following the issue, the health department has taken immediate action to investigate the matter,” she told reporters last night. “If found to be justified, appropriate action, including legal action, will be taken.”
The wristband, worn by Malaysians who return home from abroad amid the pandemic, displays the name of the airport they arrived at and the date of arrival, which also marks the beginning of their home quarantine period.
Health professional Jemilah Mahmood had shared the photo of the woman to Twitter, warning others that “COVID-19 is still out there.”
“It’s people like her that increase our nation’s risk to 2nd wave. Shame on you Ms and shame on your friends/family & cafe who allowed her in & didn’t report when she’s supposed to be under quarantine. Stricter measures needed. COVID-19 is still out there,” she said.
In the photo, the woman’s face was covered with an emoji. The wristband she was wearing appears to show that her quarantine began on July 4. Individuals are not allowed to remove the wristband until they have tested negative for COVID-19.
Social media users urged that the cafe owners ought to be penalized too, for allowing the woman to patronize its premises in the first place.
“If people won’t be responsible with self-quarantine then they need to be put into quarantine centers as this irresponsible behavior affects all of us. Cafe owner should be heavily penalized also,” said social media user Andrea Awangku in the replies.
If found guilty of violating COVID-19 quarantine measures, the woman faces a fine of RM1,000 (US$230).
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