SEVERAL key indicators – including utilisation of hospital beds, admissions to intensive care units and deaths – were taken into account in recommending Malaysia transition to the endemic phase, Health Minister Khairy Jamaluddin said today.

According to Khairy, the high number of daily infections due to the Omicron wave did not translate to higher number of hospitalisations or deaths as seen during the Delta wave last year.

“This is the decoupling effect. The increase in daily cases is not followed by hospitalisation, admissions to ICU, use of ventilators or deaths,” Khairy said at a press conference.

Another key indicator was the percentage of Covid-19 patients in home isolation whose condition deteriorated, leading to hospitalisation.

“An average of 1.3% who deteriorated while in home isolation were referred to quarantine centres, while only 0.5% were hospitalised.

“These are the indicators that allowed the Ministry of Health to decide this was the right time for us to assure the government that we can start the transition into the endemic phase.”

To date, the bed utilisation rate for non-critical Covid-19 cases – including those under investigation – is only 69%, while ICU utilisation is 42% and patients requiring ventilators 25%.

Despite the transition into the endemic phase, Khairy said the ministry is prepared for any eventualities.

“If there is a new variant that is worse than Omicron, we will also look into the protocols of other countries.”

Protocols for travellers entering Malaysia

Along with the transition, international borders will also be opened on April 1.

Khairy said quarantine will end on the same date, regardless of when a person went into isolation, as long as he or she is vaccinated.

“For example, if they start quarantine on March 29, it will end on April 1.

“Children under 17, regardless of vaccination status, need not be quarantined and only need to take an RTK-Antigen test after 24 hours in Malaysia,” he said.

However, he said unvaccinated or not fully vaccinated visitors are required to quarantine for five days upon arrival.

“Once they are out of quarantine, they must follow the standard operating procedures. Such as no dine-ins.”

People exempt from vaccination due to health reasons are required to upload the proof on MySejahtera for the MOH to evaluate.

Khairy said the protocol for travellers by land will be announced next week.

“We need to differentiate between tourists and periodic commuters for land travel. If periodic commuters from Singapore, Thailand and Brunei travel daily or weekly, it is not practical for them to do PCR every single time.

“We are discussing with neighbouring countries with land borders about how to come up with a method that secures public health and makes it smooth for regular commuters.”

From April 1, the only activity that will remain on the National Security Council’s prohibited list is nightclubs, he added. – March 9, 2022.