MARANG – “The 14-day quarantine process is an experience that will not be forgotten for a long time. It feels like a lifetime and is emotionally testing because you are missing your family and the freedom that you have enjoyed.”
This is the sentiment shared by persons under surveillance (PUS) who were placed under quarantine at the Fire and Rescue Academy in Wakaf Tapai here after they were identified as close contacts of a COVID-19 patient in September.
A civil servant, who only wants to be known as Adam admitted that he felt pressured when he had to undergo the compulsory quarantine process to curb the COVID-19 transmission.
“I felt anxious while waiting for results of the swab tests and even though the first test came back negative, I was still worried because there were cases where individuals were tested positive the second time.
“I understand my family and close friends are also worried about me. Alhamdulillah, I was tested negative in the second test…it was only after that that I felt really relieved, I was happy again and could not wait to see my family,” the 40-year-old told reporters at the quarantine centre here today.
Adam was one of the 62 PUS who was allowed to return home today after a health screening confirmed that he was free from COVID-19 and had completed the 14-day quarantine period.
Another PUS, known as Ramli, said that Malaysians should always practise personal hygiene and comply with the recommendations by the Ministry of Health to avoid being infected by COVID-19.
He said wearing a face mask, washing hands frequently as well as keeping a safe physical distance are important habits because it is the only way to prevent the transmission of the deadly virus.
“It would be a lie if I said I was not worried throughout the quarantine period, but I surrendered myself to Allah and trusted Him because I had taken all the necessary measures.
“We do not know when COVID-19 will end, so we need to get used to ‘living with it’ for an unspecified period…(we have) to be alert and familiarise ourselves with the new norms to avoid being infected,” he said adding that he intended to spread correct information on COVID-19 after he was released from the quarantine.
Meanwhile, Marang District Disaster Management Committee chairman Tun Ahmad Faisal Tun Razak said two quarantine centres had been opened in the district since Sept 27.
He said 37 PUS were placed at the Education Technology Resource Centre while 123 PUS were at the Fire and Rescue Academy in Wakaf Tapai as of noon yesterday.
“I would like to thank all frontliners at the quarantine centres for their hard work to break the COVID-19 chain. Their efforts have succeeded in reducing transmissions in the community,” he said.
— BERNAMA
