COVID-19: Patients flouting 5-day MC face jail or fine if they leave home

Patients who are issued a five-day medical leave by a medical practitioner certifying that they have acute respiratory symptoms are not allowed to leave their homes starting on the day the certificate is issued, according to an update on the Infectious Diseases Act made by the Ministry of Health (MOH). The ministry had on 14 February advised healthcare professionals to give five-day medical certificates to patients with respiratory symptoms – such as fever, cough, sore throat and runny nose – to reduce possible community transmission of the virus.