According to the national COVID-19 statistics website COVIDNOW, the fully vaccinated rate for adults in Malaysia currently stands at 80.2% as of 11:59 PM on 21 September. According to the statement made by Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob, tourist destinations will also be opened at the same time and the government believes that the 90% rate can be achieved within the next two to three weeks.
In the same announcement, he also added that Negeri Sembilan will become a Phase 4 state under the National Recovery Plan (PPN) starting from 24 September. On the same date, Pahang will also be reclassified from being a Phase 2 to Phase 3 state while Johor will finally be able to move from Phase 1 to Phase 2. The statement also includes some amendments to the SOPs, as listed below: 23 September: Grocery stores, mini markets, restaurants, petrol stations, and convenience stores will be allowed to operate from 6:00 AM to 12:00 AM. 1 October: Spa, wellness, and health massage centres can be operational once again, provided operators and customers have been fully vaccinated. 1 October: Tourism activities such as zoos, farming, aquarium, snorkelling, scuba diving, fishing, and nature parks are allowed to be operational again. PM Ismail further said that all of the businesses allowed to be opened again can operate with 100% of their workforce provided that all of them have been fully vaccinated, including the employers themselves. Last but not least, the statement also noted that foreigners have to bear the cost of the RT-PCR test that is performed at all international points of entry into Malaysia while it will be provided to Malaysian citizens for free. (Source: Prime Minister Office / Twitter, Ismail Sabri Yaakob / Twitter. Image: Rico Lee / Flickr – used under Creative Commons licence. )
