KUCHING: Following the discovery of a small wave of infections with the Omicron XBB subvariant in the country, the Health Ministry anticipates a slight increase in the number of COVID-19 cases in the coming weeks.
A New Straits Times report said caretaker Health Minister Khairy Jamaluddin advised the public to remain vigilant at all times because the country was still transitioning to the endemic phase.
“We have detected the XBB strain in Malaysia, but so far it has not led to an increase in terms of hospital admissions and deaths. That is the most important measurement.
“To what extent cases will increase, my officials at the ministry are making a projection based on the infection model we have before and next week I will be able to give a more accurate projection,” he was quoted saying.
He told reporters this after presenting devices under the Malaysian Family Student Device programme at Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM) Seremban campus yesterday (Oct 21).
It was previously reported that the Health Ministry of Singapore said the wave of XBB infections is expected to peak in the middle of November. The surge of XBB infections is thought to be primarily responsible for the spike in Covid-19 cases in the country since last month.
Despite the probability of a surge in cases in Malaysia, according to Khairy, the ministry does not currently have any plans to reinstate any restrictions, such as requiring the use of face masks.
“The transition to the endemic phase must take into account the mutation of the virus to a new variant, if an unexpected new variant can increase infectivity, effects and symptoms, only then will we review (face mask requirement), but so far it is not necessary,” he said.
He said the Health Ministry had not introduced additional measures for individuals commuting between Johor Bahru and Singapore, but the ministry was constantly monitoring and had been in contact with Singapore’s Health Minister Ong Ye Kung regarding the matter.
He added that no extra measures or restrictions had been imposed and that the ministry had handed the Election Commission (EC) a suggested standard operating procedure (SOP) for the 15th General Election (GE15).
“I see that the situation is under control so we don’t want any restrictions. If you want to hold a talk, you are free to do so, but wear a mask in a crowded place. The ministry has given its recommendations to the EC so that voting can be conducted safely, ” he said.
