Malaysia Declares COVID-19 Endemic in History Today, April 1, 2022

Officials spray disinfectant during the COVID-19 pandemic in Malaysia. (ANTARA)

JAKARTA - History today, four years ago, April 1, 2022, the Malaysian government officially made the COVID-19 pandemic an endemic. The power holder considers the number of severe symptoms after infection is low and the vaccination rate in Malaysia has reached 98.7 percent.

Previously, Malaysia was one of the countries in Asia that used the option of regional quarantine (lockdown) as a means of fighting the transmission of the corona virus. This option makes the flow of people in and out of Malaysia well maintained. The transmission can also be overcome quickly.

The presence of the COVID-19 pandemic has threatened the world. All kinds of activities have stopped because of the corona virus. The virus from Wuhan spreads quickly. The victims are numerous. This condition makes many countries in the world start to limit activities from all kinds of sectors.

All countries are victims. Their economies are damaged. Malaysia, moreover. The Malaysian government even detected the corona virus was detected from the beginning of January 2020. Much earlier than Indonesia which only officially detected it in March 2020.

This condition makes Malaysia consider that COVID-19 cannot be fought in the usual way. The government sees the transmission of COVID-19 so quickly. Once there is an event that invites a crowd, the virus will spread quickly.

Take for example when the tablig akbar took place on February 27 to March 1, 2020. The event was attended by up to 16 thousand people. At its peak, the crowd made the number of COVID-19 infections rise. Hundreds of people were infected.

The Malaysian government has no choice but to choose a difficult option: quarantine the region. The first phase of the quarantine region option was carried out from March 18-31, 2020. As a result, Malaysia closed its territory. All kinds of economic activities were closed, except for those selling daily necessities.

This option was taken in view of the many countries in Europe that use it. Everything is done so that the control of the spread of the virus can be handled. The transmission can also be traced massively.

"This movement control order is made under the Infectious Disease Prevention and Control Act 1988 and the Police Act 1967. To enforce this ban, all places of worship and places of business must be closed, except for convenience stores (supermarkets), grocery stores, public markets, shops and convenience stores selling daily necessities,"

"For those who have just returned from abroad, they are asked to undergo a health examination and carry out voluntary quarantine for 14 days. I am aware that brothers and sisters may feel that the actions taken by the government cause difficulties and difficulties for brothers and sisters to carry out their daily lives," said Malaysian Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yasin as quoted by the ANTARA page, March 22, 2020.

Portrait of security officers guarding the quarantine area in Malaysia. (ANTARA)

Malaysia is moving quickly against COVID-19. They are trying all means to make COVID-19 in Malaysia decline. The vaccination option is also being tried. This condition has brought significant results. Their number of people infected with COVID-19 has decreased.

As a result, the Malaysian government determined that the COVID-19 pandemic had officially become endemic on April 1, 2022. The change in status was because Malaysians were considered to be able to live side by side with COVID-19.

All of this is because those who have severe symptoms after infection have decreased. Malaysia has also vaccinated up to 98.7 percent of the total population. This means that Malaysia has declared COVID-19 no longer a feared virus.

"After considering various factors, conducting risk assessments, obtaining views from the Malaysian Ministry of Health, and examining the recommendations of four ministers, today I would like to announce that the country will enter a transition phase to endemic starting April 1, 2022. It is important for me to emphasize that the transition to the endemic phase is an exit strategy to allow us to return to normal after struggling with Covid-19 for two years," said Malaysian Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob as quoted by CNBC Indonesia, March 8, 2022.