KUALA LUMPUR: Close contacts of Covid-19 cases who are fully vaccinated complete with booster shots are no longer required to undergo home quarantine, on condition they are asymptomatic and test negative on Day 1 and Day 3 using RTK-Ag self-test kits.
Health Minister Khairy Jamaluddin said close contacts who have yet to receive their booster jabs, however, are still subjected to Home Surveillance Order (HSO).
"If those who are fully vaccinated and have received their booster shots test positive for the virus, they have to report on MySejahtera and undergo self-isolation. Otherwise, it will be business as usual for them.
"If they (those fully vaccinated and received booster shots) are symptomatic, they must undergo self-isolation for five days," he said at a press conference today.
The new protocol takes effect on March 1.
Khairy said the ministry decided to implement the new protocol for close contacts based on several recommendations.
"Based on the current data, we found that the incubation period of the Omicron variant is three days, before an individual develops symptoms or tests positive for Covid-19.
"Current data on the various variants also show that the viral load reduces for those fully vaccinated (if they contract Covid-19), and we assume that it also applies to individuals who have taken their booster shots during the ongoing Omicron wave.
"Based on the Health Ministry's risk assessment, we found that asymptomatic cases are less likely to have a higher viral load.
"Furthermore, we still have safeguard measures in place, such as self-tests on Day 1 and Day 3, and the self-health assessments (via MySejahtera) to confirm they do not develop symptoms," he said.
The new protocol, he added, will pave the way for Malaysia to transition into the endemic phase.