Health DG: Covid-19 Cases Will Increase in Nov & Dec Due To Highly Infectious Omicron XBB Variant

Are you noticing more people falling sick or getting Covid-19? Well, it’s not just you because the virus has once again mutated into a more infectious variant.

According to the Health Director-General Tan Sri Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah, the Omicron XBB variant of Covid-19 is highly infectious and will most likely cause an increase in Covid-19 cases in November and December 2022.

 

He said reinfections of Covid-19 with this variant has increased to 17% compared with only 5% for basic Omicron.

This predicted increase in cases is supported by model predictions of projected daily cases of the next two months.

 

Protect yourself and your loved ones

Therefore, the public is strongly encouraged to resume the use of face masks especially in crowded places, narrow & closed spaces as well as to practise frequent hand washing with sanitizer.

“Please get a booster dose especially for those at high risk,” he said in a statement.

 

“I strongly encourage the public to wear face masks both indoors and outdoors.”

“Many are complacent and take it for granted that they will not get infected. This puts them and others at risk. So long as there is this incorrect mindset, the chain of infection will not end as Omicron variants continue to mutate in our communities,” he told theSun.

 

Noor Hisham also said that the Ministry of Health will continue to monitor the current situation.

However, it is only with the public’s cooperation to carry out the “test, report, inform, identify and seek treatment (TRIIS)” methodology and to practise self-compliance to avoid being infected that we can break the chain of infection.

 

Do be responsible and take the necessary precautions to protect yourselves and your loved ones.

 

Also read: KJ: M’sians Urged to Mask Up as Country is Currently Facing a Small Covid-19 Wave Due to XBB Variant