More freedoms for fully vaxxed

PETALING JAYA: The National Security Council (NSC) has agreed to ease restrictions for those who are fully vaccinated starting from tomorrow, with more relaxation for the economic sectors to follow.

Among others, couples and parents can now travel interstate while the devout can attend prayers at mosques and other houses of worship – provided that they can show proof of the their digital vaccination certificate upon entry.

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In states under Phase Two of the National Recovery Plan, they can even dine in at restaurants, carry out non-contact sporting activities outdoors and at clubhouses and travel with stays in hotels and homestays.

All states have transitioned to Phase Two and beyond except for Selangor, Kuala Lumpur, Negri Sembilan, Kedah, Johor, Malacca and Putrajaya.

Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin said the decision to relax the restrictions from tomorrow was because 8.25 million adults in Malaysia had already completed their doses.

“There are many of us who cannot go to work and socialise. Some have lost their source of income, finished their savings and cannot stand being cooped up at home. I understand that many are suffering from pandemic fatigue.

“With advice from the Health Ministry, the government has decided to offer benefits for individuals who have been certified as completely vaccinated. This is a decision made carefully in line with data on the effectiveness of the complete vaccination, and scientific and public health principles used globally,” said Muhyiddin.

He said while daily Covid-19 infections in the country had surpassed 20,000 cases with active cases at over 200,000, between 96% and 98% of these were in Categories One and Two.

Categories One and Two are asymptomatic cases and those with mild symptoms.

A person is certified as fully vaccinated 14 days after his or her second dose for two-dose vaccines like Pfizer-BioNTech, AstraZeneca and Sinovac, and 28 days after receiving shots from single-dose vaccines like Johnson & Johnson and CanSino.

“As more people are fully vaccinated, more people will be protected from serious infections, the burden of the public healthcare system will be reduced and more economic and social sectors can be opened up gradually. We can then exit the pandemic in an orderly and safe manner.

“To ensure the rate of vaccinations is sped up, especially with the new ferocious variants, the government has mobilised all its machinery and cooperated with the private sector and NGOs using the ‘whole of nation’ approach.

“Since the launch of the National Covid-10 Immunisation Programme on Feb 24 and as of Aug 6, 23.6 million doses have been administered,” Muhyiddin said, adding that 65.6% of the adult population had received their first doses while 8.25 million had been fully vaccinated.

He said National Covid-19 Immunisation Programme coordinating minister Khairy Jamaluddin had also announced that Malaysia aimed to have vaccinated 50% of the adult population by National Day.

However, the Prime Minister cautioned those fully vaccinated who chose to dine in at restaurants in states under the Phase Two to be careful and to follow the standard operating procedure, and to only do so if there was a need.

“Compared to other social activities, dine-in activities have a higher risk as the face mask is removed during eating and when talking with those at the same table.

“I urge restaurant operators to provide more outdoor dining space with better ventilation,” Muhyiddin said, adding that further details on the SOP would be announced by the NSC soon.

“On the benefits for the economic sector, these are being discussed and considered by the NSC and I will make an announcement in the near future,” he said.

He also warned that should there be many abuses, the government would not hesitate to retract them.