Hamzah Zainudin tests positive for Covid-19

by AFIQ AZIZ / pic by TMR FILE

HOME Affairs Minister Datuk Seri Hamzah Zainudin (picture) became the third Cabinet member who tested positive for Covid-19.

In a statement yesterday, Hamzah, who is also the Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia secretary general, was confirmed positive of the virus after undergoing a Covid-19 screening on Monday.

According to the statement, Hamzah will undergo a period of quarantine as per the guidelines, with close monitoring by the Ministry of Health (MoH).

“All of the close contacts of the minister between Jan 8 and Jan 11 are requested to report to the nearest District Health Office (PKD) for Covid-19 screening,” the statement said.

Previously, Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Economy) Datuk Seri Mustapa Mohamed and Minister of Women, Family and Community Development Datuk Seri Rina Mohd Harun were tested positive for the virus.

Mustapa confirmed that he had been infected on Saturday. Meanwhile, Rina was admitted to Hospital Sungai Buloh at 11am on Monday following her positive test results on Sunday.

Worries heightened over the spread of the virus among Cabinet ministers after they were involved in a few high-level meetings.

Mustapa attended Bersatu’s supreme council meeting on Jan 6, which was chaired by the party president and Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin. Hamzah and Rina were also present at the meeting.

Mustapa also attended the Cabinet meeting. All Cabinet members and those who attended the Bersatu supreme council had been instructed to undergo a swab test.

A few ministers had also put themselves in self-quarantine.

Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Adham Baba said all ministers were ordered to take Covid-19 swab tests as a precautionary measure.

He said the MoH, through its Putrajaya PKD, has been tasked to conduct risk assessment of all related ministers.

“In the case of the Cabinet members, we have ordered the ministers to take swab tests. The Putrajaya PKD will perform a risk assessment.

“They will come out with the guidelines on whether further actions need to be taken by the Cabinet members,” Dr Adham said.


Read our earlier report

Hamzah tested positive for Covid-19