JOHOR BARU: The Johor Special Covid-19 Task Force has held its first meeting here to improve management of the pandemic in the state.

       Tunku Mahkota Johor Tunku Ismail Ibni Sultan Ibrahim said the task force would monitor and improve the system used to screen, isolate, monitor and treat Covid-19 patients.

       "This is to ensure that the pandemic is always under control.

       "Contact tracing needs to be accelerated so that it is done within 24 to 48 hours, and vaccination rates must also be increased," he said in a statement posted on Facebook here on Friday (Sept 17).

       He said the meeting on Friday was attended by Johor Mentri Besar Datuk Hasni Mohammad, Health and Environment Committee chairman R. Vidyananthan, state secretary Datuk Azmi Rohani, deputy state secretary (Management) Datuk Mohd Noh Ibrahim, Johor Health director Datuk Dr Aman Rabu, as well as health and pandemic management experts.

       The Crown Prince added that Johor needs to be prepared for the transition from a pandemic to an endemic phase.

       "I am confident that the selected members of the task force will be able to fight the Covid-19 pandemic more effectively and positive cases will begin to decline through effective public health measures and the use of latest technology," he said.

       He said that members of the task force include government agencies, experts from universities, private sectors, Malaysian Armed Forces, and non-governmental organisations in Johor.

       Last week, Tunku Ismail said that a special Covid-19 task force would be set up in Johor to improve the management of the pandemic in the state.

       He said the task force consist of several agencies such as the state Health Department, Covid-19 Immunisation Task Force, state government and experts.

       "It will be led by me personally to monitor and improve the Covid-19 pandemic management in Johor," he said.