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general positive acceptance towards the vaccine, its benefits, and barriers
were important factors in predicting the vaccination utilisation.

8.2 Guidelines Update

a. New case definition of COVID-19

There have been several updates from the MOH Malaysia regarding the
COVID-19 Management Guidelines. Among them was the new case definition
of COVID-19. New categories such as “Suspected” and “Probable” had been
introduced to precisely define COVID-19 cases. MOH Malaysia had replaced
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the term “Person Under Investigation (PUI)” to suspected case . Person
Under Surveillance (PUS) refers to an asymptomatic individual subjected to
the HSO. A suspected case of COVID-19 refers to a person who meets the
clinical and epidemiological criteria, whereas a probable case of COVID-19
refers to a person with a positive RTK-Ag test awaiting confirmation using
RT-PCR, or a suspected case with chest imaging showing findings suggestive
of the COVID-19 disease. On the other hand, a confirmed case of COVID-19
maintains its same definition, which is a person with laboratory
confirmation of the COVID-19 infection.

b. New criteria for discharge from the infectious disease ward for a
confirmed COVID-19 case

Another update on the MOH’s COVID-19 Management Guidelines involves the
new criteria for discharge from the infectious disease ward for a confirmed
COVID-19 case. Patients with COVID-19 who are symptomatic are allowed
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discharge if :
i. It has been at least ten days after the symptom onset AND
ii. They have not had a fever for at least 24 hours without the use of
fever-reducing medications AND
iii. Other symptoms such as dyspnoea and cough have improved

On the other hand, asymptomatic COVID-19 patients are allowed discharge
ten days after the date of their first positive RT-PCR test for COVID-19.

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