Malaysia's move to endemic phase will depend on gradual border reopening, a Heightened Alert system, and more

The transition to endemic will be carried out across the country at the same time and will factor in international standards such as those set by WHO, Senior Minister of Defence Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein has said.

Malaysia will need to meet the requirements of seven components before it can move into the endemic phase of COVID-19 and reopen safely, Senior Minister of Defence Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein has said.

According to a Bernama report, shared by the Ministry of Defence, these components are:

1. One set of standard operating procedures with nine guidelines;
2. A Heightened Alert system (HAS);
3. A national testing strategy;
4. The Test, Report, Isolate, Inform, Seek (TRIIS) approach;
5. An automated 'Find, Test, Trace, Isolate, Support (FTTIS) system;
6. The gradual reopening of national borders, and
7. Community empowerment ambassadors.

However, Senior Minister Hishammuddin highlighted that this will all depend on an upcoming meeting of the COVID-19 Pandemic Management Special Committee happening this week or the next, Bernama reported.

He further shared that the transition to an endemic phase will be carried out across the country at the same time, and will factor in international components that include those set by the World Health Organization.

Looking at the country's National Recovery Plan — at the time of writing, all states except Kelantan and Sarawak are currently in Phase Four of recovery.

Last, per Bernama's report, Senior Minister Hishammuddin said the reopening of borders will involve tourism, business travel, and vaccinated travel lanes for air travel.

Image / 123RF

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