As travel resumes, ministry sets up RRTF to keep check on Covid-19 spread

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 11 – Health Minister Khairy Jamaluddin said his ministry has set up the National COVID-19 Rapid Response Task Force (RRTF) to keep check on any potential spike in Covid-19 cases as travel has resumed effective today both within the country for those going abroad.

Speaking on Astro Awani’s Agenda Awani programme Sunday night, he said the ministry formed the task force as it cannot discount the possibility of a rise in Covid-19 cases although travel is only allowed for those fully vaccinated and hence wanted to be prepared.

However, these cases would now be mostly cases under Category 1 and 2, with no symptoms or mild symptoms considering that more than 80 percent of the population in all the states except Sabah have already been innoculated, Khairy said.

The task force will carry out quick action such as immediate monitoring and controlling the spread of the virus in a state or area by, among others, by adding on bed capacity, setting up field hospitals and the outsourcing of patients to private hospitals, he said.

He also reminded people that in the current phase as Malaysians move into living the virus, each individual must be responsible for safeguarding themselves and also others around them from the virus infection.

People must also continue to follow all the preventive measures such as using facemask, self hygiene, and they must also practice the TRISS or Test, Report, Isolate, Inform dan Seek (TRIIS) to keep safe.

He also called on those showing any symptoms to undergo testing and self-quarantine at home. They must also report to the ministry via the MySejahtera application and inform that their health would have to be monitored but should their symptoms worsen, they must go to a health facility immediately.

He also stressed on the need to take personal responsibility towards ensuring the safety of themselves, their families and the society. Hence, those wishing to travel to see their families must ensure that they are free from Covid-19 before doing so.

While vaccination has been proven to be effective in preventing serious infection of the virus, health status and age of a person infected will still play an important role, he added.

Malaysia continued to see a drop in its daily number of Covid-19 cases, reporting a total of 6,709 cases today, bringing the total number of cases to 2,346,303.