THE Health Ministry (MOH) will discuss the Covid-19 standard operating procedure (SOP) in mid-June, following an announcement by the World Health Organization that Covid-19 is no longer a global health emergency.

Health Minister Dr Zaliha Mustafa said her ministry is taking a heedful approach before making any announcement, considering Malaysia still has local areas of infection, until the end of this month.

“In the middle of June, we will go through the SOP,” she told reporters after the launch of Kuala Lumpur Wellness City (KLWC) in Kuala Lumpur today.

She said the SOP amendment might include the removal of the face mask mandate on public transport.

“We also have to look at the (trend of) cases, as it is something we cannot predict … We may face a spike of cases during festive seasons, so we have to manage that, and then we will decide,” she said.

On May 30, Dr Zaliha said the MOH would update the Covid-19 SOP.

On the development of KLWC, she said it is a bold step in creating a sustainable and inclusive society, where the health of Malaysians is at the forefront.

“This visionary initiative represents a commitment to providing the best healthcare services and towards building a healthier nation, one that recognises the interconnectedness of physical, mental, and social well-being,” she said.

KLWC is the first purpose-built township project in Southeast Asia to cultivate a lifestyle fully integrated with healthcare and wellness, with a gross development value of RM11 billion spanning 10.7ha of land.

Dr Zaliha said MOH supports private sector-driven initiatives to boost the nation’s health tourism industry, to be on a par with competitors such as Thailand and Singapore. – Bernama, June 1, 2023.