KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysians must continue to be diligent and avoid complacency despite the nation transitioning to the Covid-19 endemic phase.
Deputy Health Minister Datuk Dr Noor Azmi Ghazali said as the nation transitioned to the endemic phase, the impact of the pandemic should not be dismissed by Malaysians.
"I would like to remind myself and all Malaysians that we cannot afford complacency even in the endemic phase," he said at the handing over of funding by the Australian High Commission to the Malaysian Red Crescent Society for Covid-19 vaccine response.
He said the nation must continue to foster meaningful and impactful alliances with the international communities, key stakeholders and community leaders, and empower others to take charge of their health and safety.
Dr Noor Azmi said the country's new daily Covid-19 cases were 3,206 yesterday, while Covid-19 deaths increased to two-digit cases earlier this week.
On Thursday, there were 35,988 active Covid-19 cases.
Noor Azmi added that the government aimed to have 80 per cent of the total population vaccinated by the end of the year.
"Up to today, 84.2 per cent of our population are fully vaccinated through various collaborations with the ministry, auxiliary bodies, non-government organisations and stakeholders rolling out the national vaccination programme.
"The support that we have received internally and externally has been tremendous.
"This shows that no matter what obstacles we face, we could always count on a helping hand being extended to us to ease our hardship."