KUCHING: Members of the public who have close contact with Covid-19 positive cases are encouraged to take the initiative to go for swab test instead of waiting for directives from the Ministry of Health (MoH).
Normah Medical Specialist Centre (NMSC) nursing officer and Infection Control nurse Siti Farizan Bali said they should also comply with the quarantine order issued by ministry on self-quarantine and isolation.
“When a person is confirmed Covid-19 positive, a person under investigation (PUI) or a close contact, they are required to undergo quarantine. The moment a quarantine order has been issued, compliance is very crucial.
“If a person knows that he or she is a close contact with a Covid-19 positive case, they are encouraged to take the initiative to undergo swab test screening without waiting for directives from the authorities to do so.
“After undergoing the swab test screening, self-quarantine and self-isolation are important until the result is out and whilst waiting for MoH to inform on what to do next.”
She said this during a webinar on ‘Prompting Community’s Resilience Against Covid-19 Pandemic’ organised by the Kuching North City Commission (DBKU) on Thursday (July 29).
Siti noted that this initiative reflects one’s awareness on the exposure of Covid-19 virus and there are various facilities which offer swab test screening services including private hospitals like NMSC.
On the practice of new normal in daily lives, Siti said people must continue to adapt and embrace it in their lifestyles.
She pointed out that adhering to the new normal was one of the ways to prevent from Covid-19 infection
“Thus, it is important to avoid the 3Cs namely crowded places, close-contact settings as well as confined and enclosed spaced. Any situation where people are near one another for long period of time increases the risk of transmission.
“Of course, we must continue to keep our social and physical distancing, take care of hand hygiene, continue to practise protective measures as well as good coughing and sneezing etiquette.
“Air ventilation is also important so when possible open window or door of the premises you are at and monitor your health daily,” she explained.
