Malaysia No Longer Implements Positive Individual Quarantine For COVID-19

Illustration - Planet Earth with a face mask shield. (ANTARA)

KUALA LUMPUR - Malaysian Ministry of Health (KKM) has updated its home surveillance order (HSO) and mask use requirements by no longer implementing home quarantine for individuals who are known to be positive for COVID-19 starting July 15, 2024.

In a written statement from the KKM received in Kuala Lumpur, Saturday, he said individuals who were positive for COVID-19 would be treated the same as other respiratory infections and no longer given home surveillance orders or quarantine at home.

However, the KKM encourages those affected by COVID-19 to carry out social responsibility to stay at home or where they live considering they still have the potential to cause COVID-19 infection.

In addition, KKM asks for immediate examination and further treatment to health facilities if symptoms worsen.

KKM also appealed to those who are close contacts with positive COVID-19 individuals to monitor their health.

If there are mental symptoms and worsening, it is advisable to do an examination and treatment at a health facility.

They also do not need to report positive status of independent COVID-19 tests on the MySejahtera application.

KKM urges those who are confirmed positive for COVID-19 to wear masks, minimize social interaction and avoid crowded places. And for those who have symptoms such as cough and flu, it is recommended to wear masks, especially when in health facilities or crowds with poor ventilation.

KKM also recommends health workers wear masks when in health facilities, especially when treating patients, in line with the practice of controlling and preventing infections.

Although Malaysia will enter the phase transition of living with COVID-19, KKM said it will continue to monitor the current situation at the global and national levels.

The decline in COVID-19 infection in Malaysia has occurred since Sunday Epidemiology 1 of 2024 (ME 1/2024). In ME 26/2024 there were 3,810 cases, this figure decreased by 77.9 percent compared to the same period in 2023 which reached 17,256 cases.

The number of COVID-19 deaths also showed a decline from 22 cases in ME 1/2024 to no cases in ME 26/2024 (down 100 percent).

Until now, Malaysia has not recorded any new variants detected. Variants spreading in the country are still Omicron variants, with subvariants consisting of Variant of Concern (VOC), Variant of Interest (VOI), and Variant Under Monitoring (VUM).