COVID: MOH will continue community screening to prevent large clusters

PUTRAJAYA: The Health Ministry (MOH) will continue to conduct community screenings to detect COVID-19 infection so that control and preventive measures can be taken immediately to prevent the occurrence of large clusters, said its minister, Datuk Seri Dr Adham Baba.

He said the MOH was concerned with the increase in COVID-19 cases, especially in Sarawak, Kelantan and Selangor after the average daily reported COVID-19 cases in the country exceeded 2,500 cases from April 20.

Dr Adham said his team would increase screenings using "health screening booths" in collaboration with private health services and health volunteers, especially in the red zone areas.

In a statement today, he said targeted screenings would also be conducted in localities where COVID-19 prevalence exceeds 10 per cent based on concordance tests using the Antigen Rapid Test Kit (RTK-Ag).

He also said border control and the management of travellers from abroad were also tightened to prevent the spread of COVID-19 and its new variants from entering the country.

“The country's borders are closed to travellers from India following the increase in cases with the detection of new variants there.

“The quarantine period has been increased to 14 days for all travellers from countries who report the spread of COVID-19 variants of concern,” he added.

-- BERNAMA