With the consent of His Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu'izzaddin Waddaulah ibni Al-Marhum Sultan Haji Omar 'Ali Saifuddien Sa'adul Khairi Waddien, Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam, the COVID-19 Steering Committee announced the latest amendments to COVID-19 control measures which will commence on Wednesday, 15th February 2023. In the media conference, the Minister at the Prime Minister's Office and Second Minister of Finance and Economy also stated that the Infectious Diseases Act Chapter 204 will no longer be the basis for mandatory isolation for positive cases of COVID-19. This is taking into consideration that Brunei Darussalam has entered the Endemic Phase about a year ago and the people of the country have high level of immunity for collective protection which was achieved through vaccination and natural infection or hybrid immunity. This is also in line with the guidelines of the World Health Organization, WHO.

With these amendments, anyone with a positive ART are encouraged to upload their ART results to the BruHealth app. However, Quarantine Order will no longer be issued and is replaced with Self Isolation Advice. The use of the purple code in the BruHealth app will be maintained. However, its usage will only be for verification and as a Medical Certificate, and not for mandatory self-isolation. Currently, positive cases are required to undergo mandatory self-isolation for five to ten days, which is subject to ART results after the fifth day. Therefore, with these changes, COVID-19 positive cases are only advised to undergo self-isolation for a period of three to five days only. Those who opt to self-isolate can end their self-isolation after the fifth day or at any time after they are tested negative after the third day. Close contacts of COVID-19 cases are no longer required to undergo self-isolation and as such, the red code on the BruHealth app will no longer be in use. However, anyone with symptoms are advised to do their ART.

Source: Radio Television Brunei