MOH Detects More Locally Transmitted Cases Of Omicron Variant
Health Minister Khairy said that Malaysia has now recorded a total of 122 Omicron cases, with 117 being imported and five being locally transmitted. 71 of these cases involve returning Umrah pilgrims.
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The Ministry of Health (MOH) has detected more locally transmitted cases of the COVID-19 Omicron variant in Kedah after a previous local case, with no recent travel history, was confirmed in Bintulu, Sarawak
Health Minister Khairy Jamaluddin, in a statement yesterday, 4 January, confirmed that 58 new Omicron variant cases were recorded on Tuesday, of which, four are locally transmitted cases in Kedah.
According to Khairy, the four new locally transmitted cases are believed to have been infected by an Umrah pilgrim who was found positive for the COVID-19 Omicron variant in December last year.
The remaining 54 are imported cases. Of which, 39 originated from Saudi Arabia, seven from the United Arab Emirates, four from the UK, two from Nigeria, and one each from Kazakhstan and France.
This brings the cumulative Omicron variant case count in Malaysia to 122, with 117 being imported cases and five being locally transmitted. 71 of these cases involve returning Umrah pilgrims, Khairy said.
All four new cases were exposed to the infection on 13 December, and all of them began to show category two symptoms four days later
After a COVID-19 reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) test conducted on 19 December 2021, all of them were found positive with a cycle threshold (CT) value between 20.80 and 21.49.
"All of them were given treatment for 14 days at the Sultan Abdul Halim Hospital in Sungai Petani, Kedah," the Health Minister was quoted as saying by Malaysiakini.
Meanwhile, in light of the rising number of Omicron cases, Khairy reminded those who are currently under compulsory quarantine to take instructions seriously and not meet with anyone during the period
"The Ministry of Health would like to remind individuals ordered to undergo mandatory home quarantine to continue observing the order, remain in separate rooms, and not meet family members and other individuals," he said, adding that failure to comply will result in more COVID-19 infections in the country including the spread of the Omicron variant among family members and the community.
He also urged those eligible for a booster dose to get the jab so that they are protected.
Earlier this month, the Health Minister had warned that there is a high possibility of an Omicron wave starting in the country:
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