COVID-19 surveillance will continue even when RMCO is over - Health DG

COVID-19 surveillance activities in Malaysia will go on even after the Recovery Movement Control Order (RMCO) is over, Health director-general Datuk Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah said.

He said although the number of daily cases is under control and the country is into the recovery phase, the Ministry of Health (MOH) would continue to monitor the spread of COVID-19 in the community at all times.

“The activities to be carried out will include clinical surveillance as well as screening of target groups. Through these activities COVID-19 cases in Malaysia can be detected early and immediate measures can be taken to contain the spread of infection.

"As such, the MOH must be notified of all COVID-19 positive cases detected through government and private health facilities.

"This is because COVID-19 has already been listed as a notifiable disease under the Prevention and Control of Infectious Diseases Act 1988 (Act 342)," he said at the daily COVID-19 media conference here today.

He said previously surveillance activities included clinical surveillance and screening of target groups for Influenza Like Illness (ILI) and Severe Acute Respiratory Infection (SARI) adding that random samples have been taken from MOH health facilities for COVID-19 screening, during clinical surveillance.

He informed that there are now 26 sentinel sites nationwide and the increase in number was to provide early warning of COVID-19 spread in Malaysia.

Meanwhile, Dr Noor Hisham urged traders at markets to take precautionary measures and to maintain cleanliness at their respective premises.

The call was made following reports that COVID-19 had infected over 100 people which implicated meat and seafood sold at a wholesale food market in Beijing, China as the source of the outbreak.

He said based on preliminary investigations by the Chinese authorities it was found that the cause was hygiene-related.

“So far, there is no evidence that the source of infection was linked to fish or animals, but the conclusion was it was related to the cleanliness level there.

“What is important is that we must take preventive steps and maintain cleanliness while doing business in markets or other premises,” he said.