The COVID-19 Quartet Ministers Meeting has decided to remove temperature checks and the usage of a manual logbook at business premises and offices as the measure is ineffective in curbing the spread of coronavirus.
Temperature checks are not necessarily enough to pinpoint the right cases.
Effective 11 February 2022, temperature check before any entry to any premises is no longer mandatory and is now only optional. pic.twitter.com/XkEnFcB1PX
— KKMalaysia🇲🇾🩺❤️ (@KKMPutrajaya) February 8, 2022
The statement was officially announced by the Defence Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein. Temperature screening is ineffective on its own for a variety of reasons. To start, in crisis situations, people may use inappropriate instruments, or use the right instruments incorrectly, leading to inaccuracies. A person can show up with a higher than average surface temperature because they just went out for a jog, or they may have been standing near a heating lamp, causing them to be warm.
“With this, premise owners are no longer required to provide thermometers and check-in record books at entrances,” he said, adding however that check-ins using the MySejahtera application would remain mandatory.
However, those premise owners who wished to continue with these measures are welcomed to do so. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), screening can be partially effective, but won’t be effective for asymptomatic carriers.
As the cases has been increasing rapidly, let’s stay safe and continue to adhere to the SOP’s so that we can end this pandemic as soon as possible!
