JN.1 Covid-19 subvariant poses no significant health threat, says ministry
PETALING JAYA : The health ministry has moved to reassure the public that the recently detected JN.1 Covid-19 subvariant poses no significant health threats, despite the rising infection numbers in recent weeks.
According to the ministry's latest data, a total of 6,523 Covid-19 cases were reported throughout May 2025, averaging approximately 228 new cases per day.
'Although there has been an increase in Covid-19 cases recently, the weekly average remains below the national warning level and no deaths have been reported so far,' the ministry said in a statement today.
It added that with no fatalities recorded and the number of new cases being below the weekly average, the data corresponded with the country's 'living with Covid-19' phase.
The ministry went on to encourage high-risk groups, namely senior citizens, those with underlying health conditions, immunocompromised patients, pregnant women, and frontline medical staff, to receive additional Covid-19 booster shots to reduce the risk of infection.
It said free vaccinations remain available at selected government clinics across all states, with appointments bookable through the MySejahtera application.
The public is also advised to keep wearing masks at crowded places and when experiencing symptoms, as well as to wash their hands frequently.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Malay Mail
an hour ago
- Malay Mail
Facing backlash, Putrajaya says Usim teaching hospital moved to Kota Tinggi from Nilai to serve southern zone
KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 13 — The selection of Kota Tinggi, Johor as the new location for Universiti Sains Islam Malaysia's (USIM) teaching hospital was made as there is no teaching hospital available in the southern zone of the peninsula, according to Deputy Minister of Higher Education Datuk Mustapha Sakmud. He said the distribution of teaching hospitals in the peninsula is currently concentrated in the Klang Valley and East Coast areas, in addition to Sabah and Sarawak. 'In addition, there is a need for additional specialist treatment facilities in Kota Tinggi due to the fact that it is a strategic location close to one of the world's best tourist destinations, namely Desaru, in addition to neighbouring countries Singapore and Indonesia,' he said in reply to Muhammad Islahuddin Abas (PN-Mersing) at Dewan Rakyat today. Muhammad Islahuddin had wanted to know the rationale behind the relocation of USIM's teaching hospital from Nilai to Kota Tinggi, as well as the academic needs, logistics, student and lecturer welfare and the effectiveness of clinical training that had been taken into account. Mustapha said the teaching hospital would focus on research, training medical students, rural treatment and mobile specialist clinics, in addition to providing a burn ward for industrial accidents in Pengerang. — Bernama
Free Malaysia Today
2 hours ago
- Free Malaysia Today
2,000 unauthorised ads on health products pulled down since Jan 1
MCMC is working closely with the health authorities to identify fake medicines and unauthorised health service advertisements. PETALING JAYA : A total of 2,033 unauthorised online advertisements on health products and services have been pulled down during the first seven months of this year. Deputy communications minister Teo Nie Ching said the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission did this after receiving 2,283 complaints from the health ministry, Bernama reported. 'In 2022, MCMC received eight complaints and removed all related ads. In 2023, 439 complaints were received and 390 ads were removed. 'Last year, MCMC received 3,312 complaints and took down 1,643 unauthorised online ads,' she said after officiating the Johor-level Madani MSME Digital Grant Festival 2025 in Permas Jaya, Johor Bahru, today. Teo said her ministry is working closely with the health authorities to identify false and unauthorised medicine or health service advertisements. 'When we receive a complaint from the ministry, MCMC will notify social media platform providers to take the advertisement down if it is unauthorised. 'If the complaint comes from the public, for example on fake medicines, we will refer it to the health ministry for verification first before further action is taken,' she said.
New Straits Times
2 hours ago
- New Straits Times
Over 6,000 teenage pregnancies reported since 2023, says minister
KUALA LUMPUR: A total of 6,144 teenage pregnancies were recorded in Malaysia between 2023 and March 2025, according to Health Ministry statistics. Deputy Women, Family and Community Development Minister Datuk Seri Dr Noraini Ahmad said in the Dewan Rakyat today that of the total, 2,737 cases were reported in 2023 and 2,752 cases in 2024. Another 655 cases were registered in the first quarter of 2025. Noraini, who is the member of parliament for Parit Sulong, was responding to a question from Doris Sophia Brodi (GPS–Sri Aman) about the number of cases, growth rates, and causes of teenage pregnancies in each state during the specified period. The minister said a 2015 study published in the Medical Journal of Malaysia, titled "A Review of Teenage Pregnancy Research in Malaysia," identified limited access to comprehensive reproductive health education as a major factor. She said this left many teenagers unaware of how to protect themselves from unplanned pregnancies. This finding was also supported by the 2019 Study on Adolescent Risk and Protective Factors for Reproductive and Social Health by the National Population and Family Development Board, she said. Noraini also cited a 2020 study published in the Malaysian Journal of Psychology, which listed other contributing factors such as peer pressure and media influence, particularly exposure to sexually explicit content. She said poverty, school dropouts and a lack of job opportunities were also identified as factors that heighten teenagers' vulnerability to this risk. To tackle the issue, the ministry's initiatives include a national action plan, the development of a Reproductive and Social Health Education module, and an action plan to address underage marriages. Noraini said the module covers reproductive health knowledge, decision-making skills, character development and personal safety from sexual harassment and abuse.
