3 Reasons Why COVID-19 Testing is Still Important to Malaysians

During the early stage of the pandemic, COVID-19 testing was once everyone’s concern.

Priority has since shifted to the vaccination programme with the rollout of the COVID-19 vaccines and booster doses in Malaysia.

But what exactly is the role of COVID-19 testing now that there’s a vaccine and who should get tested?

Now that there are numerous vaccines for COVID-19, what is the role that testing plays?

While vaccination does protect you from getting severely ill with COVID-19, some people who are fully vaccinated against COVID-19 do still get sick because no vaccine is 100% effective in preventing COVID-19 infection.

Should you display any COVID-19 symptoms, it is important that you get tested to find out if you are ill and to get the proper treatment.

The role of testing is to identify if you have COVID-19 so that you can get the healthcare attention you need. In addition, knowing that you are tested positive for COVID-19 will allow you to take necessary measures such as home quarantine (for Category 1 and Category 2) to stop transmission of the disease.

If you are tested positive, it is advisable to inform those whom you came in contact with so that they can get tested too. By practicing these measures with the help of testing, you are saving lives.

An additional benefit of testing is that it helps to give policymakers and healthcare providers a better idea of how the pandemic is going. Testing tells us the number of new cases in Malaysia, where they are occurring, the rate of transmission, and more.

Ultimately, this data helps policymakers plan for the future and gives healthcare workers time to provide an adequate response to the pandemic.

Not everyone needs to get tested; however, there are clear cases when you should get tested.

1. Get tested immediately if you are showing COVID-19 symptoms.
Most common symptoms:
• Fever
• Dry cough
• Tiredness
• Loss of taste or smell
Less common symptoms:
• Sore throat
• Headache
• Rash on skin
• Aches and pains
• Diarrhoea
Serious symptoms:
• Difficulty breathing or shortness of breath
• Chest pain or pressure
• Loss of speech or mobility
2. If you know someone who is confirmed to have COVID-19 and you have been in close contact with them, you should also get tested. Closed contacts of confirmed case were those as below:
   • People living in the same household; colleagues working together in the same workspace; classmates in the same classroom environment with a positive COVID-19 case
   • Having face-to-face contact with a positive COVID-19 case for more than 15 minutes, less than 1 meter apart, and in an enclosed area
   • Being present in an air-conditioned room for more than 2 hours with a positive COVID-19 case although there is no face-to-face contact
   • Travelling in the same vehicle (1 or 2 seats apart) with a positive COVID-19 case for more than 15 minutes
3. If you are unvaccinated and have recently taken part in activities that put you at risk of contracting COVID-19, such as travelling or gathering in public, get tested to be safe. At this point, please complete your primary vaccination and booster dose as immunisation remains the best way to reduce your risk of severe illness, hospitalisation, and death from COVID-19.

If you’re wondering “Where is there COVID testing near me?”, look for the nearest Pantai Hospital to you. As part of our commitment to better serve the community, Pantai Hospitals are providing COVID-19 Drive-Thru Screening Services. Alternatively, on-site screenings services for individuals and companies at their own premise is also available from selected hospitals.

For more information on COVID-19 testing at Pantai Hospital or to schedule an appointment, get in touch with us today.

1. COVID-19 Vaccines are Effective. Accessed on January 5, 2022 from https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/effectiveness.html
2. COVID-19 Testing: What You Need to Know. Accessed on January 5, 2022 from https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/symptoms-testing/testing.html
3. Management of Closed Contacts of Confirmed Case. Accessed on January 5, 2022 from https://covid-19.moh.gov.my/garis-panduan/garis-panduan-kkm/ANNEX_12_Management_of_Close_Contacts_of_Confirmed_Case_30082021.pdf