SYMPTOMATIC close contacts should not skip screening for Covid-19, the Malaysian Medical Association (MMA) said today.

Its president Dr Koh Kar Chai reminded people who are symptomatic to get tested and update their results in the MySejahtera application.

“MMA reminds close contacts to do the responsible thing and get tested if they have Covid-19-related symptoms.

“If you have tested positive, report yourselves on the MySejahtera app so your condition can be assessed and managed,” Dr Koh said in a statement today.

Yesterday, Health Minister Khairy Jamaluddin said Covid-19 close contacts, irrespective of their vaccination status, will no longer need to undergo mandatory quarantine effective April 22.

The new Covid-19 protocol means that even the unvaccinated need not self-quarantine if they are identified as close contacts to a Covid-19 case, unless they exhibit symptoms.

Previously, only those who were boosted and asymptomatic were exempt from undergoing quarantine.

Those boosted and symptomatic had to be quarantined for five days.

Close contacts who were not boosted had to undergo five days of quarantine, while the unvaccinated had to be quarantined for seven days.

There are no changes in protocol for individuals who test positive, whereby the seven-day quarantine remains.

Dr Koh also urged those who test negative for Covid-19 to seek medical attention to rule out other possible illnesses. – April 15, 2022.