PUTRAJAYA: The daily fluctuations in new confirmed Covid-19 cases recorded in the country will not affect Malaysia's transition into endemicity.

Health Minister Khairy Jamaluddin said the country have to accept the reality that a surge or new wave of the virus is inevitable when the nation decided to "live with Covid-19".

He nevertheless assured the people that the government, through the ministry, would devise and implement a new action plan in the event that a new Covid-19 variant that is highly transmissible and dangerous emerges.

"For now, despite experiencing fluctuations in daily confirmed infections, the severity of these cases are still low. 

"Therefore, I believe that we can proceed with the transitioning process (into Covid-19 endemicity)," he told reporters after attending a Hari Raya Aidilfitri open house hosted by the ministry, here today.

Among the guest-of-honour were Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob, Senior Defence Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein and Entrepreneur Development and Cooperatives Minister Tan Sri Noh Omar.

Also present was Health director-general Tan Sri Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah.

Khairy said despite the easing of Covid-19 restrictions since April 1, the situation remained under control, with the drop in the national infectivity rate (rt) to 1.04 and single digit in related fatalities.

He said although Covid-19 hospital admissions saw a slight increase, 55 per cent of the cases were in Category 1 and 2.

"Although there is slight increase in the number of daily infections, this is something that we have expected since there are more events are being held and greater movements among the people.

"However, there were no spikes in hospital and Intensive Care Unit (ICU) admissions," he said.

Khairy said the ministry will also expand the distribution of the Paxlovid antiviral pill for Covid-19 treatment to private clinics and hospitals as well as teaching hospitals soon.

At the moment, the Pfizer-manufactured drug is only being distributed to public hospitals and clinics.

Khairy said as of Mond, 405 Covid-19 patients are being treated using Paxlovid.

"We are still compiling the full report related to the (effectiveness) of Covid-19 treatments (using Paxlovid).

"From the report that we have received thus far, all patients treated using the pills have recovered from the virus. This show the pills is very effective (in Covid-19 treatment)," he said.