KUALA LUMPUR – The public must continue self-testing for Covid-19 when they fall ill to curb the spread of the virus and protect public health, the Malaysian Medical Association (MMA) said.
Self-quarantine must also be practised, MMA president Dr Azizan Abdul Aziz said in a statement.
MMA’s reminder comes as the Health Ministry plans for a third booster shot, targeting vulnerable groups, following a spike in the number of Covid-19 cases.
Dr Azizan said people are likely not testing themselves for Covid-19 when experiencing flu-like symptoms, nor are they practising self-quarantine, because current cases are reported to be mild.
However, this can harm others with weaker immune systems who are at higher risk of severe Covid-19 and who need hospitalisation.
“While Covid-19 is well under control in the country now and no longer a threat to the majority of the population, it can still be life threatening to the elderly and those with comorbidities.
“We therefore urge the public to ensure they conduct a self test when experiencing flu-like symptoms to rule out Covid-19 and immediately isolate if it is confirmed to be Covid-19 positive.”
MMA also recommended booster shots and masking especially in crowded and poorly ventilated public spaces.
The public should also continue hygiene practices adopted during the pandemic, such as washing hands with soap and water, and hand sanitising.
Yesterday, the Health Ministry said that Covid-19 cases had nearly doubled for the week of December 3 to 9, with 12,757 cases, from the previous week between November 26 and December 2 (6,796 cases). – December 14, 2023