Health experts urge Malaysians to stay vigilant against Covid-19

Doctors are advising vigilance, urging people to wear mask and sanitise their hands regularly.PHOTO: THE STAR/ASIA NEWS NETWORK

GEORGE TOWN, Penang – Malaysians have been told to remain vigilant against Covid-19, especially during the coming school holidays.

Virologist Kumitaa Theva Das said there would usually be a hike in Covid-19 cases when there are large gatherings, as it increases the chances of the spread of the virus.

“For example, the spike in Thailand was attributed to the Songkran Festival in April,” she said.

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“But since this JN.1 variant has been circulating for a while, we are not going to see 20,000 cases a day despite the school holidays.”

Schools around the country will have a one-week break from May 29 to June 9.

Dr Kumitaa, who is with Universiti Sains Malaysia, said the country’s healthcare providers were not expected to be overwhelmed.

Experts surmise that JN.1, a descendant of the Omicron lineage, emerged two years ago in several countries, including Malaysia.

Dr Kumitaa said the current spike in neighboring countries, like Singapore, was due to the LF.7 and NB.1.8 variants, which are offshoots of JN.1.

She said LF.7 was detected in Malaysia in the middle of 2024.

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“This means that many people may have been infected with it in the past and have immunity against it,” she said.

She added that the public should practice caution at all times and wear masks if necessary.

“If you have young children or elderly in your family, wearing a mask will help keep you safe, especially for the high-risk groups,” she said.

Penang Hospital infectious disease unit head Chow Ting Soo said it was important that people do not drop their guard.

“We should always practice good cough etiquette and avoid public spaces when down with respiratory illnesses,” she added.

Dr Chow said it was a must for the elderly and those who are immunocompromised to wear masks and avoid crowded areas.

She urged people to adopt proper hygiene practices and get their annual vaccinations.

“Now, we have the Covid-19 vaccine available at government health clinics. The elderly and those with comorbidities can get their appointments via the MySejahtera app,” she said.

Penang health director Fazilah Shaik Allaudin said that, according to the latest announcement from the Health Ministry on May 16, all states in Malaysia reported Covid-19 cases that fell below the warning threshold for the period spanning epidemiological Week (EW) 16 to EW19/2025, which includes Penang.

She said the ministry would continue to monitor the Covid-19 situation and will implement suitable preventative measures based on the current risk assessment.

In Kedah, health committee chairman Mansor Zakaria said the situation was under control.

“Cases recorded are not serious and there is no indication that there will be an increase,” he said. /dl