Adib Noor
Brunei is not seeing a new wave of XBB COVID-19 variant infections as experienced by neighbouring countries, said Minister of Health Dato Seri Setia Dr Haji Mohd Isham bin Haji Jaafar at a press conference yesterday.
The minister said that despite the increasing number of positive cases in the recent week, it is not significant enough to be considered a wave.
He further stated that the number of Category 4 and Category 5 cases continues to be low despite the recent number of cases.
Dato Seri Setia Dr Haji Mohd Isham also shared that in October, six per cent of the 540 cases detected were found to have the XBB variant, adding that XBB is not the main variant in the Sultanate.
The minister also reminded the public to follow the health guidelines and to get booster shots to keep severe symptoms of the COVID-19 at bay.
He said masking is still optional in the country, though it is highly encouraged to do so in crowded places. He also reminded high-risk individuals, such as those suffering from diabetes or heart conditions, to take extra precautions.
