‘Improvements are urgently needed in the Health Ministry's handling of mild cases of Covid-19 (category 1 and 2) and their close contacts to eliminate confusion and prevent possible flouting of the home quarantine SOPs which can lead to an increase in community transmissions. The Malaysian Medical Association (MMA) once again urges the Health Ministry to revert to its earlier policy of testing all close contacts. The Health Ministry's current policy is to only test symptomatic close contacts.
‘In its preventive measures, only isolating them will not be sufficient. The health status of all close contacts should be established early or there can be a risk of infections spreading among family members in the household and into the community if they breach the quarantine. Screening close contacts will also improve management of early symptoms of Covid-19.
‘MMA had earlier proposed that the government consider roping in the private sector doctors to test close contacts if it is faced with a shortage in manpower.’
Read here (Malaysiakini, Feb 6, 2021)
