Interstate travel allowed once vaccination rate hits 90pct

In addition, the committee’s chairperson Ismail Sabri Yaakob said tourism hotspots, islands, other tourist destinations will be allowed to open once the benchmark is reached.

The decision is one of several changes to the country’s Covid-19 standard operating procedures announced today.

“With these relaxations, the government urges that the people take advantage of it with discipline and a sense of responsibility.

“Comply with every SOP that has been set, wear a mask, practice physical distancing, and always maintain personal hygiene and safety,” said Ismail Sabri, who is also the prime minister.

As of yesterday, 93.2 percent of all adults in Malaysia have received at least one Covid-19 dose. In addition, 80.2 percent have completed their vaccinations.

As of yesterday, 93.2 percent of all adults in Malaysia have received at least one Covid-19 dose. In addition, 80.2 percent have completed their vaccinations – whether it is a single-dose vaccine from Cansino Biologics, or a two-dose vaccine from Pfizer, Sinovac, or AstraZeneca.

However, the vaccines had not been evenly distributed.

For example, the vaccination rate exceeds 90 percent of all adults in Negeri Sembilan, Labuan and the Klang Valley.

In contrast, vaccination rates are relatively low in Kedah (64 percent), Perak (62.3 percent), Pahang (62.2 percent), Kelantan (60.7 percent) and Sabah (55.9 percent).

[Note: The chart above includes the child and adolescent population, not just adults.]

Meanwhile, beginning Oct 1, Ismail Sabri said spas, wellness centres, and massage centres may resume operations provided that patrons and operators have both completed their vaccinations.

Tourist attractions such as zoos, aquariums, snorkelling and dive centres, fishing, and forest parks will be allowed to operate under all phases of the National Recovery Plan beginning Oct 1. Once again, the operators and visitors must first complete their vaccination.

For businesses that are allowed to operate, they are allowed to do so at full capacity if the employer and all employees have been fully vaccinated.

A person is considered fully vaccinated 14 days after receiving the second dose of a two-dose vaccine, or 28 days after receiving a single-dose vaccine. This is to allow time for the body to build immunity against Covid-19 following vaccination.

A person’s vaccination status will show up in an orange box in their MySejahtera profile once the requisite time has elapsed.

As for international arrivals, Ismail Sabri said the committee has decided that foreigners will need to pay to undergo an RT-PCR test upon arrival, while the test will be provided for free to Malaysian citizens.