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‘No need for more tests’

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Datuk Aaron Ago Dagang.

KUCHING: There is no need to increase the number of Covid-19 tests if the number of positive cases is below one percent, said Deputy Health Minister II, Datuk Aaron Ago Dagang.

He said the government is using a targeted approach to conducting Covid-19 tests following the minimal percentage and he implied that such approach would suffice.

“We only screen those with symptoms and have diseases like asthma as well as those who are scheduled to undergo operations.

“Apart from that, we also screen those coming from outside of the country and in Sarawak we also screen those who just arrived in the state,” he said.

He further mentioned that the approach was in line with the World Health Organisation’s guidelines that say a positive rate of less than five percent is one indicator that the disease is under control in a country.

He was responding in the Dewan Rakyat today (Aug 24) to Bandar Kuching MP Dr Kelvin Yii Lee Wuen who asked him whether the government would change its strategy to increase the number of tests in view of the possibility of hidden Covid-19 clusters.

On Aug 13, Aaron also responded to a similar question by the former Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad who asked why the number of tests has declined over time.

Aaron said Malaysia conducts about 5,000 to 6,000 tests daily, adding that most of those who tested positive were those who returned from abroad.

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