KUCHING: The public are advised to continue using face masks even in settings where they are not required, especially for those who have respiratory infection symptoms and are in high-risk groups.
Health Director-General Tan Sri Dr. Noor Hisham Abdullah told The Star yesterday (Oct 16) that the Health Ministry would continue to respond to new COVID-19 subvariant accordingly, adding that the Omicron subvariant and the XBB COVID-19 strain will be under constant observation and supervision by the ministry.
“So far, this (the XBB strain) has yet to be a variant of concern.
“We know that the virus will continue to mutate from time to time.
“But the question is whether it is going to be more transmissible and more virulent with increased hospitalisation and ICU utilisation,” he said.
He added that there would be a balance in their actions and public health measures.
On Saturday (Oct 15), Malaysia reported 2,023 Covid-19 infections but no fatalities.
There are now 23,881 active cases throughout the country .
Since its discovery in India in August, the XBB subvariant has been discovered in at least 17 other nations, including Bangladesh, India, Japan, Singapore, Australia, Denmark, and the United States.
