During today’s press conference, Health Minister Khairy Jamaluddin revealed that the government is currently reviewing the MySejahtera check-in requirement which is still mandatory at all premises. A decision will be made in the next week or two, based on the current COVID-19 infection trend to determine if there’s still a need for contact tracing at a micro level.
On allegations that MySejahtera check-ins are not useful, Khairy said he totally disagrees with the claim as the national contact tracing app has been effective in managing the pandemic. During the peak of the Omicron wave, 45% of individuals who have been notified for casual contact were found positive and had isolated themselves. According to Khairy, this shows that MySejahtera is still relevant and is seen as a valuable tool for contact tracing.
Since Malaysia has already passed the peak of the Omicron wave and started its transition to the endemic phase, the Ministry of Health is still monitoring the situation before making a decision on the MySejahtera check-in requirement.
As reported by Code Blue on 30th March 2022, MySejahtera check-ins have declined as much as 26% following concerns on the intellectual property rights and licensing of the app. On Tuesday, it was reported that check-ins dropped further between 25-49% between 25th March to 9th April.
A quick check at major shopping malls in the Klang Valley reveals that enforcement of MySejahtera check-ins has been relaxed. On most occasions, check-ins were only checked at the main entrance of the mall while check-ins are no longer required for individual shops inside the mall.
MySejahtera contact tracing has been a requirement to ensure entry for low-risk and fully vaccinated individuals only. Several months ago, the Ministry of Health urged all senior citizens and adults fully vaccinated with Sinovac to get a booster shot by 31st March 2022 in order to retain their fully vaccinated status. However, it appears that the government eventually gave unboosted senior citizens and Sinovac recipients leeway when Khairy announced that these individuals are still able to dine in at restaurants, enter malls and perform normal activities similar to other boosted individuals.
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