PUTRAJAYA: Malaysia is not giving up the fight against Covid-19 by declaring it will transition to the endemic stage, says Khairy Jamaluddin.

       The Health Minister said many countries and health experts had agreed that it would be hard to achieve herd immunity due to the emergence of new Covid-19 variants, especially the highly-contagious Delta variant.

       "It is not that we have surrendered but it is to adapt to the reality on the ground," he told reporters during the ministry's press conference on Thursday (Sept 9).

       Malaysia is expected to move from the Covid-19 pandemic into an endemic phase by the end of October.

       The Health Minister added that countries such as Singapore, Australia and New Zealand that had initially imposed containment and lockdowns to control the Covid-19 cases had also accepted to live with the virus.

       "This is just the way the virus has evolved and this is just the way the virus has behaved," added Khairy.

       He noted that the transition would also depend on what happens over the next two months.

       "My prediction is that once the vaccination rate is high at the end of October, we can start the transition towards the endemic stage," he said.

       He also reminded the public to continue observing all public health measures such as wearing face masks and observing physical distancing, even if the vaccination rate was high.

       "However, it will take some time to raise awareness and educate the public," he noted.