PETALING JAYA: Covid-19 self-test kits which have hit the market will be vital in the war against the coronavirus as they help increase testing, say two health experts.
Former deputy health minister Dr Lee Boon Chye said the RTK-antigen self-test kits would enable the public to control and be responsible for their own health and safety.
“For people who have mild symptoms or symptoms which are not clear-cut, these self-test kits will help them take precautionary measures to protect themselves and their family members.
“And if they are a close contact, the self-test kits will help them self-monitor and seek earlier treatment if they do contract the virus,” he told FMT.
Recently, the health ministry gave its approval to several self-test kits to be used in the country. These include one self-test kit that utilises nasal and oral swabs and four others that rely on saliva samples.
Lee said self-test kits would also be helpful in screening large groups of people as they could tell if a person was Covid-19 positive in less than 20 minutes.
