To achieve endemic Covid-19 phase, 10 deaths per day are required and less than 1,200 cases

If Malaysia wants to proclaim that it is in the endemic phase of the Covid-19 pandemic, it must have less than 1,200 cases and fewer than 10 deaths per day for seven days in a row, according to Malaysian Deputy Health Minister Datuk Aaron Ago Dagang.

According to Datuk Aaron, the endemic situation necessitated 30% hospital bed utilisation and fewer than 10% ICU utilisation, as well as the elimination of low-risk quarantine and treatment centres.

"There are seven markers, one of which is a Covid-19 screening positivity rate of less than 5%."

"Transmission rates involving hospital employees must likewise be kept below 1%," he stated in Parliament on Monday during Ministers' Question Time (Nov 1).

The final criterion is for the entire population to be vaccinated at a rate of 80%.

"These are the markers that may lead us to the endemic phase," Mr Aaron explained.

He was answering to a question from MP Datuk Salim Shariff on whether the Health Ministry had made any plans for the endemic phase.

Mr Aaron previously stated that the World Health Organization (WHO) and a country's government will identify a country's endemic phase based on current Covid-19 numbers.

"Despite the fact that immunisation rates have surpassed 70%, total daily cases remain high."

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