IN “Let’s not mess with public health”, I reminded ourselves that the whole of the country was an infected local area until December 31, 2023. 

I reminded the health minister that the declaration of infected local area was expiring on that date.

Let it be known that the health minister has further extended the operation of the declaration of infected local area for a period from January 1, 2024 to June 30, 2024. The extension was made under the Prevention and Control of Infectious Diseases (Declaration of Infected Local Areas) (Extension of Operation) (No 2) Order 2023 – PU(A) 392/2023. The order was gazetted on December 26, 2023. 

This means that the Prevention and Control of Infectious Diseases (Measures Within Infected Local Areas) (National Recovery Plan) (Transition Phase to Endemic) Regulations 2022 [PU(A) 83/2022], having not been revoked, remains in force.

Covid-19 is a long way from going away. – January 2, 2024.

* Hafiz Hassan reads The Malaysian Insight.