Sporadic cases: A big challenge for health workers to carry out contact tracking
Fareez Azman
October 29, 2020 21:15 MYT
October 29, 2020 21:15 MYT
The CMCO which is currently implemented in some areas of the red zone is very helpful to the medical team in detecting sporadic cases. BERNAMApic
KUALA LUMPUR: The incubation period of COVID-19 virus up to 14 days for sporadic cases is one of the main challenges for medical personnel to conduct contact detection.
This was explained by the Head of the Medical and Health Cluster, Malaysian Academy of Professors, Professor Dr Adlina Suleiman.
She said the Conditional Movement Control Order (CMCO) which is currently implemented in some areas of the red zone is very helpful to the medical team in detecting sporadic cases.
"All movement control order measures are implemented based on careful discussions at the disaster control centre level. Certainly all necessary measures and efforts to track sporadic case contact are underway.
"It should be noted that the incubation period of 2 weeks is quite long, so the positive case that is the cause of the sporadic case is difficult to find. This is the biggest challenge for the team that conducts contact tracking or contact tracing.
"Therefore, my suggestion is for us to avoid visiting places where COVID cases have been visited positively. Here, (the use of the application) MySejahtera and the announcement of case movements are important," she said when interviewed by Astro AWANI.
The public is reminded to avoid going to areas where COVID-19 positive cases have been reported before.
Dr Adlina added that the Conditional Movement Control Order (CMCO) and the Enhanced Movement Control Order (EMCO) which were implemented in several areas in the Klang Valley, Kedah, Penang and Sabah began to show success.
"For now, I think it is effective because we already have a decrease in cases in the Klang Valley, Kedah and Penang. I think Sabah will follow (reduce the case) for another two weeks," she said.
To date, 29,441 cases have been recorded in the country with 10,123 cases of infectivity.
The R-naught (RO) value for Malaysia has reduced to 1.1 compared to 2.2 during the third wave on September 20. It follows the implementation of CMCO in several areas in the country.