Getting tested for Covid-19 is going to be a common practice for Malaysians in the weeks to come as interstate travel will soon be allowed nationwide.
Minister of Health Khairy Jamaluddin said that getting tested frequently is important, especially for those in an environment of high contact and mobility.
This is also to protect elderly family members when individuals return to their home towns.
“1.6% (to reach 90% vaccination of the adult population) before interstate borders open. While KKM has transitioned to symptomatic testing, we encourage people who are in high contact and mobility settings to test regularly,” Khairy said in a tweet.
“If you want to balik kampung to see elderly parents, do a RTK saliva test. Keep them safe.”
Khairy added that the authorities cannot ‘police things anymore’ and that the the public needs to have the responsibility to ensure that the nation can transition into the endemic phase safely.
“As we transition towards endemicity, we cannot police things anymore i.e. set up roadblocks to see if you have been fully vaccinated or tested,” he said in another tweet.
“Much will now depend on personal responsibility and behaviour. I believe we can rise to the challenge in #ReopeningSafely.”
According to CovidNow, 88.4% of the adult population has been fully vaccinated as of 6 October while 94.5% have received at least one dose of the vaccine.
Additionally, 3.8% of adolescents have been fully vaccinated while 62.5% have received at least one dose of the vaccine as of 6 October.
Previously, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob announced that the interstate travel ban will be lifted once 90% of the adult population have been fully vaccinated.
Also read: Singapore To Open Borders To Malaysia Soon Despite A Surge In Covid-19 Cases
