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Stay informed and know the facts about COVID-19’s causes, symptoms, diagnosis, preventions and vaccines. Learn about Gleneagles Hospitals’ care and support during this pandemic that include COVID-19 drive-thru screening services, eHealth telemedicine and safety and preparedness plans. At Gleneagles Hospital, your health and safety are our priorities.
Get information on COVID-19 facts and symptoms, learn how you can reduce the risk of infection, steps you need to take if you have COVID-19 symptoms, download self-care guide and more. It is crucial to learn how to protect your own health and the health of your family members during this pandemic.
There are a few types of Coronavirus. Coronaviruses are types of virus that typically affect the respiratory tract of mammals, including humans. They are associated with the common cold, pneumonia, and severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) and can also affect the gut.
Different types of human coronaviruses vary in the severity of illness they cause and how far they can spread.
Rare but dangerous types include MERS-CoV, which causes Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS), and severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS-CoV), the coronavirus responsible for SARS.
In December 2019, a novel coronavirus, COVID-19 (previously named ‘2019-nCoV’) has caused an outbreak of respiratory illness. The virus was first detected in Wuhan City, Hubei Province, China. Early on, many of the patients in the outbreak area reportedly had some link to a large seafood and animal market, suggesting animal-to-person spread. However, a growing number of patients reportedly have not had exposure to animal markets, indicating person-to-person spread is occurring.
As of February 2022, COVID-19 has been responsible for over 425 million infections globally, causing over 5.9 million deaths.
Since late 2019, the world has been battling the threat of COVID-19. The spread of the virus and the occurrence of new variants are expected.
In Malaysia, there have been around 3.37 million cases of COVID-19, with 32,634 confirmed deaths from January 3, 2020 to February 27, 2022.
What you need to know about COVID-19 variants
As the virus continues spreading, it also mutates,
creating new variants. Some variants emerge and disappear
while others persist. New variants will continue to emerge.
When new variants emerge, the virus’s properties, such
as how easily it spreads, the associated disease severity, or
the performance of vaccines also change.
Since late 2020, WHO and researchers have been monitoring all variants. Certain variants may be classified as variants under monitoring (VUM), variants of interest (VOI), variants of concern (VOC), and variants of high consequence. These classifications are based on how easily the variant spreads, how severe the symptoms are, how the variant responds to treatments, and how well vaccines protect against the variant.
Currently designated variants of concern (VOCs) by WHO:
| WHO Label | Earliest documented sample | Date of designation | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alpha | United Kingdom, September 2020 | 18 December 2020 | |||
| Beta | South Africa, May 2020 | 18 December 2020 | |||
| Gamma | Brazil, November 2020 | 11 January 2021 | |||
| Delta | India, October 2020 |
VOI: 4 April 2021 VOC: 11 May 2021 |
|||
| Omicron | Multiple countries, November 2021 |
VUM: 24 November 2021 VOC: 26 November 2021 |
WHO has classified Delta as a VOC as it has been associated with greater transmissibility or detrimental change in COVID-19 epidemiology. The Delta variant is highly contagious; it is at least two times more transmittable. This virus has an infection between 5 and 8, compared to 2.5 and 3 for normal viruses.
Poorly ventilated and crowded indoor spaces are the conditions under which the virus can spread quickly. Fully vaccinated individuals infected with Delta may still spread the virus. However, they seem to have a shorter period of infectivity as the infection rate may be reduced.
What do we know about Omicron?WHO has named variant B.1.1.529 as Omicron and designated it as a VOC on 26 November 2021. This variant has a high number of mutations between 26 and 32 in its spike protein. Since its first detection in South Africa on 24 November 2021, this variant has spread to dozens of countries globally, including the first case in Malaysia on 3 December 2021. It remains unknown whether this variant spreads more easily from person to person than other variants, including Delta. More data are needed to know if infection with the Omicron variant is associated with more severe disease.
What should we do?
Adhering to SOPs and
getting vaccinated against COVID-19 are two effective ways to
reduce risk of contracting COVID-19 or prevent long-term
complications if infected with the virus. At this point,
complete your primary vaccination and booster dose as
immunisation remains the best way to reduce your risk of
severe illness, hospitalisation, and death from COVID-19.
If you know someone who is confirmed to have COVID-19 and you have been in close contact with them, you should also get tested. Closed contacts of confirmed case were those as below:
The worldwide pandemic has necessitated basic hygiene practices, proper usage of face masks, frequent hand washing, physical distancing, and raised the need for easily accessible COVID-19 tests in Malaysia.
COVID-19 tests in Malaysia are essential in preventing the spread of the pandemic. It can also help patients immediate care.
There are currently two types of COVID-19 tests being used by the health authorities worldwide to detect the virus. The two tests are:
To help you understand the function of each test, here’s a helpful comparison of the tests currently available:
| Types of COVID-19 | Tests Molecular Tests (RT-PCR) | Antigen Tests (RTK-Ag) | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Also known as | Diagnostic test, viral test, molecular test, nucleic acid test, amplification test (NAAT), RT-PCR test | Rapid Diagnostic Test, usually available as a self-test kit (because the turnaround is often quicker than an RNA test) | |||
| How is the test conducted | Commonly conducted by healthcare professional |
• Available as a self-test kit • Can also be conducted by a healthcare professional |
|||
| How is the sample taken | Nasal or throat swab or saliva | Nasal or throat swab or saliva | |||
| How long does it take for results | Same day (some locations) or may be up to a week | One hour or less | |||
| Is another test needed | This test is highly accurate, usually does not require a second |
Positive
– highly accurate
Negative – may need to be confirmed with a molecular test |
|||
| What it shows | Diagnoses active coronavirus infection | Diagnoses active coronavirus infection | |||
| What it can’t do | Within the 90 days of someone contracting COVID-19 and getting treated; it won’t be able to test if a person has recovered or not | It won’t be able to rule out active coronavirus infection (antigen tests are more likely to miss an active coronavirus infection, compared to molecular tests) |
The
COVID-19 Neutralising Antibody Test
detects and measures the level of antibody in your body post
completion of the COVID-19 vaccination or a previous COVID-19
infection.
This test is conducted two weeks post
vaccination to check whether your body responds to the
vaccination and how much of these antibodies are neutralising
antibodies. It also helps assess potential
antibody-association immunity. This test can also identify
individuals with past exposure to the COVID-19 infection.
As part of our commitment to better serve the community,
Gleneagles Hospitals are providing
COVID-19 Drive-Thru Screening Services
to ensure your safety and convenience. The swab test will be
performed through the window of your vehicle.
The
PCR Test has a higher sensitivity to detect COVID-19 compared
to the Rapid Test. PCR technique has an accuracy rate of 99%,
whereas many Rapid Tests in the market has an accuracy of less
than 80%, some as low as 60%.
Book your appointment with us
to get your PCR test via the drive-thru service at Gleneagles
Hospital. You may also contact us for the
COVID-19 Neutralising Antibody Test
two weeks after completion of second dose of vaccination.
Resources:
What is a close contact?
What to do if you are a close contact to a positive COVID-19 case?
| Vaccination Status | Asymptomatic / Symptomatic | Quarantine Period | Test Requirement |
|---|---|---|---|
| Boosted | Asymptomatic | No quarantine |
|
| Symptomatic | 5 days |
|
|
| Fully Vaccinated | Asymptomatic or symptomatic | 5 days |
|
| Partially Vaccinated or Unvaccinated | Asymptomatic or symptomatic | 7 days |
|
You will need to update your status and details of close contacts in the MySejahtera app immediately.
| Below 60 years old without comorbidities / Category 1 (no symptoms) / Category 2A (mild symptoms) | Above 60 years old with comorbidities / Category 2B and above (moderate to severe symptoms) / Worsening symptoms | ||
|---|---|---|---|
|
|
||
|
Quarantine period
Fully vaccinated + no symptoms = 7 days Unvaccinated or partially vaccinated + with symptoms = 10 days During quarantine, if your symptoms worsen, seek medical attention immediately.
|
For confirmed COVID-19 infections, reported illnesses have ranged from people with little to no symptoms to people being severely ill. Symptoms may appear 2-14 days after exposure:
Category 1: Asymptomatic
(NEW) Category 2A: Minor symptoms
Category 3:
Some breathing issues
Category 4:
Requires oxygen support
Category 5: Needs intubation /
ventilator
Close contacts of positive COVID-19 cases are allowed to quarantine at home (Home Surveillance Order) if you are:
SOPs for home quarantine
What to avoid during home quarantine
The home quarantine SOPs are also relevant to those who are:
The COVID-19 virus can incubate in humans from 5 to 14 days, but the result of having COVID-19 can have longer term consequences than most people realise. Where symptoms last beyond the 4-to-12-week time frame, it is referred to as ‘long COVID’, ‘long-haul COVID’, or ‘post-COVID syndrome’.
Common Signs and Symptoms
Ear, Nose, and Throat (ENT)
ENT symptoms have always been a hallmark of the COVID-19 virus. This still remains the case, and while the symptoms tend to overlap with the common flu, they tend to be more pronounced and chronic in how they affect the individual. Those afflicted can expect to experience a range of symptoms including tinnitus (ringing in the ear), earache, sore throat, loss of taste and/or smell.
Respiratory
The respiratory element of the COVID-19 virus is a common occurrence in patients. This often results in breathing difficulties, and is often coupled with a persistent cough that does not abate. In severe cases, regular oxygen use may be necessary.
Cardiovascular
As respiratory factors have an effect on the cardiovascular system, long haul patients can expect to experience chest tightness, chest pain, and palpitations (the sensation of your heart pounding or racing). These are often more prevalent in patients with pre-existing conditions which are diabetic, respiratory or cardiovascular in nature.
Gastrointestinal
While nausea and diarrhea are common symptoms present at the onset of the COVID-19 infection, they may carry on in a mild to severe combination of abdominal pain, reduced appetite, and/or resulting anorexia.
Neurological
As the long-haul symptoms take their toll on the body, neurological symptoms (associated with the brain) may set in as well. This may be mild or severe and include cognitive impairment (brain fog, loss of concentration, memory loss), headache, sleep disturbance, peripheral neuropathy symptoms (loss of feeling in extremities), dizziness, and/or delirium.
Muscular
Further associated with long-term illness, patients may experience muscular symptoms such as joint pain, muscle pain, or a general feeling of lethargy for the duration of the illness, and post-recovery. This may occur in specific parts of the body, or affect the body in a more generalised manner.
Dermatological
Long haul COVID-19 may result in chronic or permanent skin problems such as skin rashes and hives. There may also be swelling in the fingers and toes which is tender to the touch and appears similar to bruising. Other uncomfortable symptoms include sores on the lips and mouth. Both of these latter conditions often heal over time once the patient recovers.
Managing Your Symptoms
Should you
suffer from ‘long-haul COVID’, ensure that you eat
well and drink plenty of water during this time to aid in your
recovery. Paracetamol (up to 1000 mg every 6 hours),
antihistamines (up to 3 times a day), and cough syrup (up to 3
times a day) are possible methods of treating the symptoms to
ease your discomfort. However, do consult with your doctor
prior to consuming any new medication.
From June 2020 to December 2021, the MIS-C Malaysia Study Group found that a total of 174 cases were identified in Malaysia and 57% of the total cases were among children aged 5-11 years old.
What is Multi-System Inflammatory Syndrome in Children (MIS-C)?MIS-C is a life-threatening complication caused by COVID-19 infection in children. This condition causes organs to become inflamed, including the heart, lungs, kidneys, brain, skin, eyes, and gastrointestinal organs. So far, seven deaths have been recorded as a result of MIS-C.
What are the symptoms of MIS-C?
Parents and guardians should get the COVID-19 vaccines for their children aged 5-11 years old to protect them from COVID-19 and its related medical complications including MIS-C.
The Cominarty for children vaccine uses a new and safe formulation and dosage that is appropriate for children in that age range.
It is important to protect yourself and those around you by taking the right precautionary measures to reduce the risk of coronavirus infection.
Unvaccinated people are 9x more likely to be infected and 62x more likely to die from COVID-19 infection.
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