OK for Sarawak to stop testing asymptomatic close contacts, says MMA

 

Sarawak says it will no longer test close contacts showing no symptoms although they will be isolated at home.

PETALING JAYA: The Malaysian Medical Association has welcomed the Sarawak government’s decision to move forward with quarantining Covid-19 close contacts and to test only those showing symptoms of infection.

MMA president Dr Koh Kar Chai said the policy was unlikely to result in any brought-in-dead (BID) cases as those infected with the virus would show symptoms before becoming severe cases.

“Once the close contacts become symptomatic, they can be tested and treated,” he said.

“Virtual CACs (Covid-19 assessment centres) and remote monitoring of mild cases will also help decrease the strain on our healthcare system.”

However, Koh said this approach could not be applied to those in the high-risk category and that asymptomatic close contacts with comorbidities and people aged 60 and above should be tested.

Former deputy health minister Dr Lee Boon Chye said it was acceptable to stop testing asymptomatic close contacts as long as almost all eligible people had been vaccinated.

However, he said this approach must be accompanied by monitoring or at least a daily interview with the asymptomatic people.

Koh and Lee were commenting on a report that Sarawak would no longer test close contacts showing no symptoms although they would be isolated at home.

Sarawak health director Dr Mohamed Sapian Mohamed said health authorities would monitor them through virtual CACs.

“I believe that the Sarawak health department is just overwhelmed by the sheer workload, with more than 3,000 cases and possibly 9,000 to 15,000 close contacts to screen and monitor,” Lee told FMT.

He noted that community spread was rampant in Sarawak and said the government should consider empowering more people to use Covid-19 self-test kits and provide them free to those in close contact with the infected.

He said such tests could help identify new cases and the tracing of close contacts quickly.

On Monday, Sarawak DAP chairman Chong Chieng Jen said the Sarawak government’s decision to stop testing asymptomatic close contacts was a dangerous move.

“The fight against Covid-19 is still not over, especially when our children are still vulnerable and the effectiveness of vaccine protection on those fully vaccinated will decrease over time,” he said.

“While we acknowledge the need to open up the economy, certain measures must be adopted to minimise the risk of infection, illness and death. Surely, reducing tests is not the correct way.” - FMT