The quarantine period for people returning from overseas and those who've had close contact with COVID-19 patients has been reduced from 14 days to 10 days.

Health director-general Tan Sri Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah, in a statement released on Dec 13, said that this was in line with the latest clinical reports from all over the world.

Infection rate decreases after the first week

"A recent review of clinical scientific evidence found that the risk of post-quarantine infection will decrease throughout the quarantine period. The infection rate is highest in the first week after exposure," he said.

He added that several countries had reviewed their quarantine period, with countries such as the United Kingdom, Germany and Belgium also reducing the period to 10 days.

France has reduced the number of days to only seven.

Dr Noor Hisham said that the new rule would apply for those quarantined at quarantine centres as well as at home beginning Dec 14.

Stay vigilant

The number of COVID-19 cases in the country remains high, and new clusters seem to be popping up every day.