KUALA LUMPUR: The Covid-19 Pandemic Management Special Committee has decided to allow Johor to move to Phase 3 from Phase 2 and Pahang to move to Phase 4 from Phase 3 under the National Recovery Plan (NRP), effective Friday.
Senior Defence Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein said the decision was made based on the guidelines listed under the NRP and after taking into account the current risk assessment provided by the Health Ministry and the National Security Council (NSC).
"The standard operating procedures (SOP) for Phase 3 and Phase 4 states are the same as what has been set before. The SOP updates will be updated by the NSC at its website www.mkn.gov.my," he said in a statement.
Hishammuddin said the special committee had also agreed on several new leeways of the Covid-19 preventive measures effective Oct 9 including allowing wholesale markets in Phase 2 and Phase 3 states to operate based on the local councils' permit and licence gudielines provided that workers were fully vaccinated and adhered to the existing SOP.
He also said the Thali tying ceremony at temples and the holy matrimony for Christians would be allowed under the NRP.
"The National Unity Ministry will inform Hindu and Christian associations on the SOP that must be adhered to."
Other relaxation, the senior defence minister said, would be allowing public auction activities for the pawnbroking sectors to be held under strict conditions including workers and bidders must be fully vaccinated.
"It will only involve 54 auctioners who have been identified nationwide and limited to 30 minutes per session on the 1st and 7th of each month.
"The (attendance) capacity is based on the (NRP) phases with 60 per cent for employees and 50 per cent for bidders under Phase 2, 80 per cent for employees and 80 per cent for bidders (Phase 3) and 100 per cent for both employees and bidders (Phase 4)," Hishammuddin said.
Another leeway, he said, was allowing the tobbaco sector and its chain to operate under Phase 2 of the NRP and the rest of the phases.
As the #ReopeningSafely efforts were underway, Hishammuddin stressed on the importance for everyone to remain vigilant and accept the fact that one must live with the Covid-19 virus.
"We must always adhere to the SOP and give priority on doing self-test when showing symptoms such as flu, fever and cough. Once one gets the self-test result, it must be reported immediately via the MySejahtera application.
"If the test is positive, one must undergo self-quarantine and should never violate the Home Surveillance Order. Should one's health deteriorate further while under self-quarantine, the person must inform the relevant authorities immediately.
"Those with serious symptoms must seek medical treatment quickly," he said.
