KUCHING, Sept 6: Health Minister Khairy Jamaluddin is correct in defining Covid-19 as endemic and not pandemic, especially in Sarawak, says Deputy Chief Minister Tan Sri James Jemut Masing.
In a statement today, Masing said the 80 per cent herd immunity which Sarawak hopes to achieve by Sept 2021, will render vaccinated people as relatively protected from the deadly impact of the coronavirus.
“Thus the evolution of Covid-19 from pandemic to endemic requires, according to Khairy, new approaches to restore normalcy to Malaysian life.
“Sections of the economy (need) to be opened (sic) up bit by bit, and government offices need to function as usual, once its staff are fully vaccinated,” he added.
Masing was commenting on a news article published by a national English daily yesterday about moving into the endemic stage and opening up the country’s economy.
Masing, who is also Minister of Infrastructure and Port Development, said however, strict standard operating procedures (SOPs) still need be adhered to, and parties, as well as big gatherings including seminars are disallowed.
He said Khairy knows that Covid-19 is here to stay for a while, and Malaysians must learn to live with it and around it, intelligently.
“Khairy, it seems, understands that the containment of the disease can’t be worse than the disease itself, and I am confident that with the support of his cabinet, colleagues and the people of Malaysia, both Khairy and MOH (Ministry of Health), will overcome Covid-19,” he added. — DayakDaily
