Tourism centres, interstate travel allowed if adult population vaccination reaches 90 pct - PM

KUALA LUMPUR: The Special Committee on Pandemic Management today agreed to allow the opening of tourism centres, islands and areas as well as cross state travel when the country's adult population vaccination rate reached 90 per cent.

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob said the rate of vaccination is based on the data and analysis carried out by the Health Ministry (MOH).

He said the meeting also agreed to allow the transition of the National Recovery Plan (PPN) phase for three states effective this Friday namely Negeri Sembilan moving to Phase Four, Pahang to Phase Three and Johor to enter Phase Two.

"The transition of phase is according to the guidelines set under PPN by taking into consideration hospital admission for symptomatic cases, occupancy of intensive care unit (ICU) beds, as well as the percentage of the fully vaccinated.

"The decision is also based on the the current risk evaluation by MOH and the National Security Council (MKN)," he said in a statement today.

According to Ismail Sabri, the standard operating procedure (SOP) for states which entered Phase Two, Three and Four are the same as before and the latest SOP explanation would be updated by MKN on its official website, www.mkn.gov.my.

In this regard, he said the meeting today also decided on other matters including allowing sundry shops , mini markets, restaurants, petrol stations and convenient stores to operate from 6 am to 12 midnight effective tomorrow.

Apart from that, the operation of spa, health (wellness) and massage centres are allowed for customers and operators who have received two-dose vaccination from Oct 1.

"Tourism centres and activities such zoos, farms, aquariums, snorkeling, scuba diving, angling tourism and forest parks would be allowed to operate in all phases of PPN effective Oct 1 with all operators and visitors having completed their vaccination," he said.

On the presence of workers at businesses allowed to operate, Ismail Sabri said they are allowed with 100 capacity on the condition the employer and all workers have been fully vaccinated.

Ismail Sabri said the meeting also set that foreigners arriving at international checkpoints have to bear the cost of RT-PCR test at the entry point while the test is free for Malaysians.

"The government urged people benefiting from the relaxations given to be disciplined and have a sense of responsibility. Comply with every SOP stipulated, wear face mask, practise physical distancing and look after the one's own health and safety," he said.

-- BERNAMA