As you all know, Malaysia has entered the transition to the endemic phase of the Covid-19 pandemic on April 1.

Along with it, many restrictions were lifted including allowing prayer activities without physical distancing and abolishing the limit on business operating hours.

To add to that, Health Minister Khairy Jamaluddin said that during the transition phase, 98% of COVID-19 cases only need to be quarantined at home.

Khairy confirmed the matter in a series of tweets, as reported by Free Malaysia Today.

Khairy said this is due to the success of National COVID-19 Immunisation Programme (PICK).

“In our transition to endemicity, almost 98% of active COVID-19 cases only have to isolate at home without being referred to hospital. The success of PICK has ensured that the vast majority of COVID-19 patients are only mildly symptomatic,” he tweeted.

Khairy further mentioned that during the transition phase, the Virtual Covid Assessment Centre (VCAC) will be continued to allow the ministry to monitor patients virtually and avoid crowding in physical CACs.

“Home isolation monitoring is important because there are patients who need to be referred to hospital when their symptoms worsen.

“Even though the percentage is less than 1 per cent, VCAC gives patients peace of mind and real data to the health ministry.”

He also explained that the VCAC via the MySejahtera application requires patients to fill out a health assessment tool (HAT) twice a day about their symptoms.

Khairy added that if a patient’s HAT data shows their symptoms have worsened, they will get a notification that will give them an option to go to the nearest health facility for further assessment.

“To assist and ensure B40 families fill the HAT properly and do a self-health assessment, over 2 million COVID-19 Protection Packages have already been shipped which contain pulse oximeters, thermometers, test kits & face masks. Another 1 million will be sent,” he tweeted.

This is really assuring and the real way forward in facing the COVID-19 pandemic!