KUALA LUMPUR – Malaysia’s national recovery plan will have four phases that will entail a gradual easing of movement restrictions, said prime minister Muhyiddin Yassin in a special address yesterday on the country’s way forward out of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Progression to the next recovery phase will depend on three indicators:
- the number of COVID-19 cases daily
- the capacity of the healthcare system, including beds available in intensive care units (ICU)
- the percentage of the population that has been vaccinated against COVID-19
The four-phased recovery plan entails:
Phase 1 – June
The country is currently in the first phase, a total lockdown. This is because the infection rates are high, the healthcare system is at full capacity, and the percentage of the population that has been vaccinated is low.
Phase 2 – July & August
The country will move on to phase 2 once:
- Cases are below 4,000 a day
- Occupancy of ICU beds is considered at a medium level
- 10% of the population has been vaccinated
In this phase, more economic activities will be added to the positive list and it can only operate at 80% capacity.
Social activities are still barred and interstate travel is not allowed.
Phase 3 – September & October
In this phase, social activities will be allowed in phases and a negative list will be implemented.
Parliament can reconvene when Phase 3 is achieved.
Phase 3 will be enacted once:
- Cases are below 2,000 a day
- Occupancy of ICU beds is considered enough
- 40% of the population has been vaccinated
Phase 4 – November & December
In this final phase, all economic sectors will be fully reopened, while social activities, interstate travel and domestic tourism will be allowed under tight standard operating procedures (SOP).
This will be achieved when:
- Cases are below 500 a day
- Occupancy of ICU beds is considered enough
- 60% of the population has been vaccinated
However, the prime minister added that the exit plan is “dynamic” and would depend on the main indicators.
He said the National Security Council would be issued detailed SOP for each of the phases.
Read more: Vaccination Side Effects & Malaysian Insurance Providers: A Brief Coverage
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