Status of Covid-19 infection areas will continue despite WHO declaration: MoH

KUALA LUMPUR – The Health Ministry today announced that the status of local areas of infection would remain unchanged for the time being even though the World Health Organisation (WHO) has declared that Covid-19 is no longer a public health emergency of international concern (PHEIC).

Minister Dr Zaliha Mustafa said the move is necessary to meet the need for quarantine or isolation of Covid-19 cases in places other than hospitals and the need for employers to bear the cost of treatment and testing for Covid-19 for their employees.

Prior to this, MoH had extended the declaration of local areas of infection from January 1 to June 30.

“Based on the current assessment, the status of local areas of infection will continue.

“Another risk assessment of the Covid-19 infection situation is expected to be carried out in mid-June to review the declaration of local areas of infection and the next course of action,” she said in a statement today.

Meanwhile, Dr Zaliha said the declaration that Covid-19 is no longer a PHEIC followed the decision of the International Health Regulations (2005) Emergency Committee’s meeting in Geneva on May 4.

She said the decision took into account the global trend that shows a decrease in the number of deaths from Covid-19, admissions to hospitals and intensive care units, and the high level of the world’s population immunity against the SARS-CoV-2 virus.

Dr Zaliha said accessibility to diagnosis, treatment, and vaccines had also contributed to the declaration.

“The monitoring of the SARS-CoV-2 virus variants also showed that they did not cause severe Covid-19 infections.

“Although the SARS-CoV-2 virus is still in the environment and will continue to evolve, it is no longer an unexpected or unusual incident,” she said.

Nevertheless, Dr Zaliha said MoH would continue with Covid-19 control and prevention measures based on the existing protocol, and carry out reviews and update the Covid-19 guidelines with reference to WHO’s recommendations regarding the long-term management transition of the pandemic. – Bernama, May 8, 2023