Malaysia to set up task force to fight pandemic

Illustrative image. (Photo: Xinhua/VNA)

Kuala Lumpur (VNA) -  The Malaysian government has established a National Rapid Response Task Force in order to quickly test and isolate COVID-19 cases.

In a statement on September 26, Malaysian Health Minister Khairy Jamaluddin said the force will apply the experience gained in reducing the number of infections in the Klang Valley to the prevention of COVID-19 nationwide. The force will focus on rapidly testing and isolating those who tested positive for COVID-19.
 
The health minister said the local authority could impose a home isolation order for anyone testing positive for COVID-19 and those having close contact with them without having to wait for the test results. In addition, if a person violates the home isolation order, they can be handled by the local police force.

On the same day, Malaysian police issued a warning about fake COVID-19 vaccination certificates.

Malaysian Medical Association (MMA) president Koh Kar Chai told The Straits Times that the issue of fake vaccine certificates first came up when certain countries started raising the prospect of needing a vaccine passport for travel, and became amplified when the Malaysian government brought up the issue of recognising vaccine certificates in the country for various purposes./.