Covid-19: No more quarantine orders from July 15

 

The Health Ministry has announced new guidelines that will treat Covid-19 similarly to other respiratory diseases, as the threat of the disease subsides.

Beginning July 15, the ministry said it will no longer issue home surveillance orders (HSO) that compel Covid-19 patients to confine themselves to their homes for five days.

In addition, those who self-tested positive for Covid-19 will no longer be required to report it through the MySejahtera app.

Nevertheless, the ministry reminded that Covid-19-positive individuals are still contagious. Thus, they are still encouraged, as a matter of social responsibility, to remain at home and avoid close contact with others.

They are urged to take precautionary measures to protect others when they leave home and to seek medical treatment if their symptoms persist or worsen.

“The issuance of medical certificates and hospital referrals (if necessary) will be based on the evaluation of the attending medical officer,” it said in a statement today.

Those who become close contacts are also urged to monitor their condition and seek medical treatment if necessary.

Face mask guidelines

Elaborating on its new masking guidelines, the ministry said those who have Covid-19 are encouraged to wear masks, minimise social interactions, and avoid crowded areas.

Similarly, those with flu-like symptoms and cough are also encouraged to mask up, especially in healthcare facilities or crowded places with poor ventilation.

Healthcare workers are encouraged to wear face masks while at healthcare facilities, particularly when managing patients, in line with infectious disease prevention and control practices.

The new masking guidelines are also to come into effect on July 15.

Current Covid situation

On the current Covid-19 situation in Malaysia, the Health Ministry said the number of Covid-19 cases and deaths last week has fallen significantly since the beginning of the year.

There were 3,810 Covid-19 cases and no deaths last week, compared to 17,256 cases and 22 deaths during the first week of 2024.

No new variants of the virus have been detected in Malaysia.

Those still circulating in the population are the Omicron variant and its subvariants, such as the relatively new LB.1 subvariant and the older JN.1, EG.5, and BA.2.86 subvariants.

“However, the subvariants that are currently circulating do not cause more severe disease (compared to other Covid-19 variants) to those who are infected,” it said.

Nevertheless, Covid-19 cases are expected to increase from time to time, and the ministry urged people to continue to take precautions such as frequent handwashing with soap or sanitisers.

Masking is recommended for those who are symptomatic, vulnerable, or when in crowded or closed spaces. In addition, booster vaccine doses are recommended for those who are high-risk such as those 60 years old and above, or who have medical issues.

The ministry said it will continue to use the Heightened Alert System to monitor the spread of the disease through three indicators: Newly reported Covid-19 cases, Covid-19 deaths, and hospital admissions due to Covid-19.

“The Health Ministry thanks all Malaysians for their role in fighting Covid-19 together. The commitment and cooperation of Malaysians are key to successfully transitioning into living with Covid-19.

“Nevertheless, we cannot be complacent.

“Members of the public are advised to take necessary action to make themselves stronger, take care of their health, and prevent contracting diseases or spreading it to others,” the ministry said. - Mkini