The Malaysia Ministry of Health has updated its COVID-19 test and isolation rules to combat the Omicron variant surge!
New COVID-19 Testing Rules To Fight Omicron Surge In Malaysia!
On 7 February 2022, Malaysia Health Minister Khairy Jamaluddin announced new test rules to combat the Omicron variant surge.
- Those who are symptomatic should immediately take a COVID-19 test, whether PCR or RAT.
- The test result, whether positive or negative, should be reported in MySejahtera.
- If you get a positive result on your rapid antigen test (RAT), there is no need to confirm the diagnosis using PCR. The positive RAT test result is good enough.
On 17 February 2022, the Malaysia Ministry of Health clarified the testing rules for close contacts :
- If you test negative for COVID-19, you must finish the full quarantine period.
- If you test positive, you must follow the COVID-19 positive protocol.
On 25 February 2022, KKM updated testing requirements for individuals with Cat 1 and Cat 2A COVID-19.
New Isolation + Hospitalisation Rules To Fight Omicron Surge In Malaysia!
Here are also the new rules on home isolation and hospitalisation for people who test positive for COVID-19, as of 17 February 2022.
First, let me clarify some of the terms for COVID-19 positive individuals :
- Category 1 : patients who are asymptomatic (have no symptoms)
- Category 2A : patients who have mild symptoms
- Category 2B : patients who have moderate symptoms
- Low Risk : patients who are less than 60 years old, and do not have co-morbidities
- High Risk : patients who are 60 years and above, or have co-morbidities
| Category 2A (Mild Symptoms) |
Category 2B (Moderate Symptoms) |
| Sore throat or flu symptoms, without fever or breathing difficulties |
Prolonged fever for 2 days or more, or developing a new fever |
| Cough without fever or breathing difficulties |
Breathing difficulty during physical activity (Exertional dyspnoea) |
| Loss of taste, but with good appetite | Chest pain |
| Loss of smell | Loss of appetite |
| Diarrhoea 1-2 times in 24 hours | Feeling tired during daily activities, or on waking up from sleep |
| Vomitting or feeling nauseous | Need help to walk |
| Tired, but can perform daily activities | Worsening symptoms (cough, nausea, vomiting, or persistent diarrhoea) |
| Muscle ache, but can perform daily tasks | Declining mental acuity |
| Reduced urine output in the last 24 hours |
COVID-19 Positive (Cat 1, Cat 2A, Low Risk)
- You should NOT go to the CAC (COVID-19 Assessment Centre), unless specifically requested through MySejahtera, SMS or a phone call.
- You must isolate at home for 7 days if you do not have symptoms (Cat 1), and are fully-vaccinated.
- You must isolate at home for 10 days, if you are symptomatic, or are unvaccinated / not fully-vaccinated.
- You must perform self-assessment using the Health Assessment Tool (HAT) in the MySejahtera app TWICE a day. Updated!
a) before 12 PM
b) before 6 PM - You will receive an SMS or a robocall (Automated Voice Recording) in case you forget to perform the self-assessment.
COVID-19 Positive (Cat 2B and above)
- You must go to the CAC (COVID-19 Assessment Centre) for assessment, to determine if you need to go to the nearest hospital. Updated!
- Those who are not sent to the hospital must isolate at home for 10 days, and perform self-assessment using the Health Assessment Tool (HAT) in the MySejahtera app. Updated!
Read more : New Quarantine Rules For Close Contact / COVID-19 Positive!
| Effective 17 February |
Fully Vaccinated with / without Booster Dose |
Unvaccinated or Partially Vaccinated |
| Isolation Period | 7 Days | 10 Days |
COVID-19 Positive High-Risk Group (Cat 1 + Cat 2)
On 17 February 2022, KKM announced that the following patients are considered high-risk, and will be hospitalised even if they are Category 1 or Category 2.
- Have medical co-morbidities – diabetes, uncontrolled hypertension
- Diagnosed with other non-contagious disease that are uncontrolled / untreated
- Caretaker of paediatric or geriatric patient
- Obstetric cases that require monitoring
- Admissions through the emergency ward
- Live in homes that are not conducive for self-quarantine
- Immunocompromised patients (HIV, undergoing chemotherapy)
- Children who have :
a) dehydration
b) prolonged fever and fatigue
c) chronic disease
d) no guardian
Close Contact
- If you do not have symptoms, there is no need to go to the CAC, or take a COVID-19 test. You will be given a digital HSO (Home Surveillance Order) to isolate at home.
- Adults 18 Years & Above
a) No quarantine for fully-vaccinated individuals with booster dose, without symptoms on Day 1. But must conduct RTK self-test on Day 1 and Day 3, and if positive – report results in MySejahtera, and follow COVID-19 positive protocol
b) No quarantine for people who were fully-vaccinated, or recovered from COVID-19 in the last 60 days.
c) 5 days for fully-vaccinated individuals with booster dose, but symptomatic on Day 1.
d) 5 days for fully-vaccinated individuals without booster dose
e) 7 days for unvaccinated / not fully-vaccinated individuals - If you have symptoms, you must immediately self test for COVID-19.
a) the test result must be reported in the MySejahtera app.
b) you must conduct daily self-assessment using the Health Assessment Tool (HAT) in the MySejahtera app.
c) if test is positive, you must follow COVID-19 positive protocol. See above.
d) if test is negative, you must finish the full quarantine period
Read more : New Quarantine Rules For Close Contact / COVID-19 Positive!
| Effective 1 March 2022 |
Vaccination Status | No Symptoms On Day 1 |
Symptomatic On Day 1 |
| ≥ 18 Years Old | Fully-vaccinated with booster dose | No Quarantine | 5 Days |
| Fully-vaccinated, no booster dose | 5 Days | ||
| Unvaccinated / incomplete vaccination | 7 Days | ||
| < 18 Years Old | Fully-vaccinated | 5 Days | |
| Unvaccinated / incomplete vaccination | 7 Days | ||
| All | Fully-vaccinated in last 60 days or Recovered in last 60 days |
No Quarantine | |
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Dr. Adrian Wong has been writing about tech and science since 1997, even publishing a book with Prentice Hall called Breaking Through The BIOS Barrier (ISBN 978-0131455368) while in medical school.
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