KUALA LUMPUR: The government is preparing to transition the country into an endemic phase from the current Covid-19 pandemic stage, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob said today.
He said the actual timeline for this, including the standard operating procedures (SOPs) involved, is still being formulated by the Health Ministry.
He, however, assured that the number of SOPs enforced once the country has shifted into the endemic phase would be lesser than the current pandemic status.
Ismail Sabri said this a special press conference which was televised live today.
The press conference was held after 90 per cent of the adult population in the country have been fully vaccinated under the Covid-19 National Immunisation Programme (NIP).
On Sept 1, Health Minister Khairy Jamaluddin said Malaysia should be able to move from the Covid-19 pandemic into an endemic phase by the end of October.
He said being in an endemic phase would see the reopening of more economic and social sectors with new Covid-19 norms being practiced by the people.