THE Health Ministry (MOH) will monitor the increase in Covid-19 cases during the general election campaign and intensify efforts to curb the spread of the virus.

Caretaker health minister Khairy Jamaluddin said although there had been an increase in daily Covid-19 cases, the situation was still under control based on the low number of patients admitted to hospital due to the virus infection.

“So far, it is under control, like Omicron, even though cases are on the rise, hospital admission is not high and the death rate is low.

“There is a wave of infection but in terms of severity, it is not that bad,” he added.

Khairy said MOH had recommended to the Election Commission standard operating procedure for an election that is “Covid-19 safe” and that the matter would be announced soon.

He said the health departments in all states had also been instructed to provide additional health officers to help Covid-19 patients go out to vote at their respective polling centres.

“We don’t want them (Covid patients) to be at the polling station for too long. The patients go to polling stations, register and show their MySejahtera status to the health officer. There is no need for them to queue – just cast their vote and then go out (of the polling centre),” said Khairy, who will contest the Sungai Buloh parliamentary seat in the national polls. – Bernama, November 6, 2022.