Party campaigners urged to keep voters safe amid rising Covid-19 cases

Infectious diseases expert Dr Christopher Lee has urged political parties campaigning in the general election to also encourage the public to put on face masks, amid rising Covid-19 cases.

The Health Ministry's modelling shows Covid-19 cases are expected to climb during the two-week campaigning period which starts tomorrow.

"This trend is certainly expected with (Omicron) XBB (sub-variant) around, waning vaccine immunity and increased people movement and interactions due to GE15.

"I would urge all political parties to promote masking during their ceramah or other election activities.

"Keeping the electorate safe must be their priority, too," the former health deputy director general tweeted.

On Monday, Health Minister Khairy Jamaluddin said the country is experiencing a small Covid-19 wave due to Omicron XBB.

He said there has been a 14.3 percent rise in hospital admissions due to Covid-19 in the last week.

The sub-variant, which was detected through four cases in Selangor and Negeri Sembilan last week, is also the cause for the rise in cases in Singapore, Khairy added.

Malaysia previously experienced a spike in Covid-19 cases amid political campaigning following the Sabah polls in 2020.

A study found the state election, which saw campaigners from around the country converge in Sabah, "seeded" the third Covid-19 wave.

Unlike in previous state and by-elections, masks are no longer compulsory but merely encouraged.

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