KHAIRY Jamaluddin has told the public to don their masks as Malaysia experiences a minor Covid-19 wave, after a spike in case numbers.

The caretaker health minister said the ministry “highly recommends” that the public masks up.

“I encourage anyone participating in the election campaign to wear a mask, especially when indoors. I have also informed the Election Commission (EC) that masks are highly recommended, though not compulsory,” he told a press conference today in Putrajaya.

Khairy pointed out that new Covid-19 cases increased 16.5% to 16,917 cases in the week until October 29, compared to 14,525 cases the previous week.

“However, we found that in terms of admission to government hospitals, most have mild symptoms, not serious symptoms,” he said, adding that the use of beds in the intensive care units (ICUs) have only increased by 2 per cent.

“In other words, we are facing a small wave,” he said.

Khairy said the ministry was unsure if the wave would worsen.

The caretaker health minister also said the ministry had advised the Election Commission (EC) to ensure that those on duty at polling centres put on their masks.

He said further announcements will be made in the coming days on the matter.

Khairy said the Health Ministry had detected four cases of the Omicron XBB subvariant to date, but all the patients were in Category 2 and experienced minor symptoms.

“The patients underwent isolation for seven days as per the ministry’s SOP. All close contacts were also identified and are in good health,” he was quoted as saying. – October 31, 2022.