Photo: Malay Mail
Malaysia’s Health Minister Khairy Jamaluddin has announced new SOPs for close contact cases and provided updates on the vaccination status for Sinovac recipients.
Here’s what you need to know:
1. New protocol for those categorized as “close contacts”
The latest SOPs for close contacts are:
Over 18 years old:
– No need to quarantine for those with booster shots, without symptoms
– 5-day quarantine for those with booster shots, with symptoms
– 5-day quarantine for fully vaxxed without booster
– 7-day quarantine for the unvaxxed
Below 18 years old:
– 5-day quarantine for the fully vaxxed
– 7-day quarantine for the unvaccinated
Those who were reported to be close contact but show no symptoms and are aged 18 and above and boosted, are not required to home quarantine but must perform an RTK test on the 1st and 3rd day.
If tested positive, individuals must report their status on MySJ and undergo home quarantine. Whereas if the individual tests negative on the 1st and 3rd day, no quarantine is required.
Close contact with symptoms must be home quarantined for 5 days.
These SOPs will be effective starting on the 1st of March
2. Booster deadline for Sinovac recipients extended to 31 March
Sinovac recipients (first 2 doses) aged 18 and above as well as those aged 60 and above must receive their booster shots by 31 March 2022 to maintain their “fully-vaccinated” status (previously 1 March). Otherwise, their “fully-vaccinated” status will be changed to “partially-vaccinated” as of 1 April 2022.
3. Booster jabs effective in reducing severity of infections
Although Covid-19 cases are increasing, the vaccine has shown ability to reduce severity of infections, Khairy said. This is especially applicable to those in older age groups and teenagers.
Adults who did not receive their booster jabs are currently more vulnerable to severe infection.
4. Walk-in vaccination for children 5 years and above
The national immunisation programme for children (PICKids) will accept walk-ins at selected vaccination centres starting March 1.
The ministry will be updating the appointment system on the MySejahtera mobile application in stages starting today so that parents or guardians who wish to make appointments for their children’s vaccination can do so from March 7.
5. MAEPS to be reopened
The MAEPS Covid-19 treatment center in Serdang will be reopened for low-risk patients to reduce hospitalization.
