PUTRAJAYA: Malaysia will declare itself free of Covid-19 when the country records zero new cases of infection for 28 consecutive days.
Health director-general Datuk Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah said this is the same method applied before the announcement of the end of a cluster.
"Currently, to end a cluster, we monitor it for 28 days, which is two cycles of the (Covid-19) incubation period.
"So, we use the same method. If we register zero cases for 28 consecutive days, then we will declare that Malaysia is free from Covid-19, that's our benchmark," he said at the daily Covid-19 press conference here, today.
To a question, Dr Noor Hisham said the ministry is in the midst of preparing standard operating procedures (SOPs) for reflexology and massage businesses to resume activities.
He said the proposed SOPs will be tabled to the National Security Council (NSC) next week.
"Under the recovery phase, we encourage all sectors to reopen in stages. For reflexology and massage activities, the ministry is currently discussing and reviewing suitable SOPs, which we will submit to the NSC as soon as possible.
"We expect all sectors to reopen by the end of the Recovery Movement Control Order (RMCO).
"We were worried that there would be an exponential spike at the early stage, particularly after Hari Raya. But, that did not happen, instead, the number of (new) cases dropped.
"What is key now is to make sure the (number of) cases will not increase exponentially. If we can maintain the new cases at single or double digits, more sectors will be allowed to resume operations," he said in response to calls from disabled groups to allow reflexology and massage activities to resume during the RMCO, as many of them have lost their source of income
shahizam.f@mhtc.org.my
Muhammad Rasydan Ma’at
Asst. Manager, Communications
+603 8776 6168
rasydan.m@mhtc.org.my
Malaysia Healthcare Travel Council (MHTC), established in 2009 under the purview of the Ministry of Health (MOH) Malaysia, is entrusted with developing and nurturing the “Malaysia Healthcare” brand. MHTC enhances, coordinates, and promotes Malaysia’s healthcare travel industry by fostering industry collaborations and building valuable public-private partnerships both domestically and internationally. With 80 member hospitals nationwide, MHTC continues to elevate the healthcare travel ecosystem through strong branding, seamless patient experiences, and strategic market initiatives. In line with these efforts, MHTC is spearheading the Malaysia Year of Medical Tourism (MYMT) 2026, the nation’s first dedicated year to celebrate and advance healthcare travel. MYMT 2026 serves as a milestone initiative to showcase Malaysia’s world-class healthcare offerings, strengthen its position as the premier global healthcare destination, and highlight the industry’s significant contribution to the national economy. More information can be found at https://www.mhtc.org.my/.
