COVID-19: No new variants detected, situation under control - Dr. Dzulkefly

PUTRAJAYA: No new COVID-19 variants have been detected in the country and the situation remains under control with most reported cases involving mild symptoms and not requiring hospital treatment, said Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad.

The Health Minister said the variant that is still circulating in Malaysia is Omicron, with its subvariants XBB.1.16, XBB.1.5, EG.5 and JN.1.

"The current Omicron subvariants are known not to cause more severe cases.

"The COVID-19 virus will continue to be with us just like other respiratory viruses such as influenza. The public is advised to always practise balance in terms of health and life during the season of increasing cases of infectious diseases," he said in a statement today.

For the 51st Epidemiological Week, from Dec 17 to 23, he said the admission rate of patients suffering from COVID-19 to hospital was 0.5 per cent while the mortality rate was 0.08 per cent.