AFTER two years of movement controls, face masks and having to check in everywhere with your phone, there's finally a light at the end of the tunnel after Health Minister Khairy Jamaluddin announced on Wednesday (April 27) that they would be loosening up Covid-19 standard operating procedures, effective May 1.
Seeing that many Malaysians are all excited about our "freedom day", many have gone to social media with various claims about what these new SOPs are and how they would affect us.
To cut through the bunkum that many are sharing, we decided to list what the new SOPs are and how they will affect you.
1. Masks are no longer required.
This is FALSE as masks are still required under certain circumstances. If you are working indoors in an office or other enclosed space you still need to wear a mask. This includes if you are visiting a mall, riding on public transport and ehailing rides.
The only time you are not required to wear a mask indoors is if you are exercising, giving a speech or a performance on stage.
While it is optional to wear masks outdoors, the Health Ministry still encourages the public to wear masks in crowded spaces or if you are a high-risk individual.
2. You do not need to practice physical distancing anymore.
This is TRUE. It is no longer required but you are encouraged to do so if you are not wearing a mask.
3. You don't need to be vaccinated to go to the shops.
This is TRUE. Individuals can now enter premises regardless of vaccination status.
However, those undergoing quarantine and travellers who are not fully vaccinated still won't be allowed in.
4. You don't need to sanitise your hands anymore.
FALSE. The Health Ministry advises everyone to practice good hygiene by washing and sanitising their hands.
Khairy also advised everyone not to touch their face after shaking hands.
5. Vaccines won't be free anymore.
TRUE. Khairy said that children aged five to 12 years old who are unvaccinated will be only left with paid options after May 15. This ruling would also apply to adults.
He added that the Health Ministry will be putting aside vaccines for kids who are only turning five this year but have yet to reach their birthday.
6. Nightclubs must still be shut.
This is FALSE. Nightclubs will finally be allowed to open their doors on May 15.
7. You no longer need to use MySejahtera.
This is FALSE. While check-ins are no longer required, Khairy said the management teams at various premises still needed to check the risk status of visitors through the app.
Individuals with the "high risk" status displayed on the app - Covid-19 positive cases and those who have been given a Home Surveillance Order - will not be allowed to enter premises.
Furthermore, the app would be the primary place for you to retrieve your Covid-19 vaccination certificate which you might still need if you travel abroad.
There still is a future, however, for MySejahtera post-Covid-19. The Health Ministry is planning to improve the hotspot tracker so that they can track other infectious diseases such as hand-foot-and-mouth disease and dengue.
8. Quarantine time for Covid-19 positive cases has been further shortened.
This is PARTIALLY TRUE. By default, Covid-19 positive patients are required to quarantine for seven days. They do have an option, however, to undergo a supervised RTK-Ag test on the fourth day. If they test negative, they may be released from quarantine.
9. Inbound travellers don't need Covid-19 insurance anymore.
TRUE
10. Travellers and youngsters 17 and under do not need to take Covid-19 tests to enter the country.
PARTIALLY TRUE. Travelers who are fully vaccinated can skip the tests.
Partially or unvaccinated travellers must take an RT-PCR test two days before departure and a supervised RTK-Ag test within five days. They would also need to be quarantined for five days.
Youngsters who are 17 and below do not need to take the test regardless of their vaccination status.
11. There will be no more banned activities.
TRUE. The National Security Council's banned activities list will no longer be applicable.
However, this will only take effect on May 15 and not May 1.
12. Schoolkids won't need to physically distance anymore.
TRUE. Come May 1, all school students must return to school. Teachers, regardless of their vaccination status, must return for face-to-face teaching.
Education Minister Datuk Dr Radzi Jidin said the rules on attendance will return to how they were before the pandemic began.
Parents must provide a letter explaining their children's absence if a student does not attend school, he said in a press conference on Thursday (April 28).
References:
3. https://www.thestar.com.my/
6. https://www.thestar.com.my/
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