PUTRAJAYA: Malaysia has reported zero Covid-19 local transmissions among its citizens for the first time in months.
Health director-general Datuk Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah said six out of seven cases were detected among Malaysians returning from abroad, while the other was a foreigner screened for Covid-19 before starting work here.
"This is a good sign. Hopefully, we can continue recording single-digit cases and even looking at easing restrictions on border control. Currently, we are still strengthening border control as a measure to curb the virus infections.
"We are planning for an exit strategy and can consider this period as a soft landing," he told a Press conference.
He said all quarters have played their part in ensuring that Covid-19 was kept under control and if the positive trend continued, the government would be able to allow all sectors to reopen soon.
Dr Noor Hisham, however, stressed the fact remained that the deadly virus was still present in the community.
"If each one of us adheres to the regulations, we are confident that we can break the chain of Covid-19 infections. Some countries have been successful in eradicating Covid-19.
"We have to depend on the public to comply with the SOP (Standard Operating Procedures) to curb infections, perhaps even aim for zero cases. It can be done if we work as a team."
He said currently, the infectivity rate of Covid-19 in Malaysia, R0 (pronounced 'R-naught'), was 0.3.
Recovery Movement Control Order which starts tomorrow would see restrictions including interstate travels being lifted as well as reopening of social, education and sports sectors, with stringent SOPs in place.