MOH: Covid-19 cases 'may appear lower' as Klang Valley pivots to self-testing

 

The Health Ministry's Greater Klang Valley special task force (GKVSTF) says Covid-19 cases "may appear lower" soon, after it implemented a new policy for self-testing and home isolation for asymptomatic close contacts.

"Asymptomatic close contacts to positive cases will be strongly encouraged to obtain a rapid Covid-19 test, either at the nearest available clinic or via self-test kits and self-isolate.

"This will allow the region to pivot towards mitigation and away from the late containment stage.

"Following the self-test and home isolation policy, total case numbers may appear lower as it will no longer capture asymptomatic contacts.

"This will be offset once self-test kits are more widely accessible," task force chairperson Dr Chong Chee Kheong said in an English statement today.

Based on Health Ministry data of new Covid-19 cases, about 50 percent of cases are asymptomatic when they first test positive.

In the Malay version of his statement, Chong said self-testing for those who are asymptomatic will allow those who need treatment to get it immediately.

Last night, National Recovery Plan (NRP) coordinating minister Tengku Zafrul Abdul Aziz said there was a proposal for the National Security Council not to form policies based on new cases as a whole, but rather to focus on the severity of cases and the death rate.

This is for when 40 percent of the population is fully vaccinated. As of yesterday, 22.5 percent of the adult population is fully vaccinated.

Meanwhile, Chong said asymptomatics who test positive for Covid-19 will be instructed to undergo home isolation for 10 days, and report themselves using home assessment tools such on apps such as MySejahtera, e-Covid, or Selangkah.

Symptomatic patients will be assessed either virtually or physically at Covid-19 Assessment Centres (CAC) or district health offices. - Mkini