KUALA LUMPUR – States under Phase 1 of the National Recovery Plan will see 11 economic sectors reopening tomorrow, including car-wash centres, barbershops and hair salons, furniture outlets, vehicle accessory shops, and clothing and jewellery stores.
The other sectors are electrical and electronics shops, those selling household items and kitchen appliances, sporting goods stores, car distribution and sales outlets, morning and farmers’ markets, and shops selling fashion accessories.
However, said Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin in a statement today, there are caveats to the reopening of these sectors.
“For businesses selling clothes, fashion accessories and jewellery, and barbershops/hair salons, the mandatory SOPs are, the use of gloves, shortened interaction time between workers and customers, and no fitting rooms.
“Premises owners must ensure customers display their Covid-19 vaccination certificate (issued to the fully vaccinated). ‘Fully vaccinated’ here refers to 14 days after the second jab (for the two-dose regimen) and after 28 days for the single-jab regimen.”
Dine-in, however, remains out of reach for Phase 1 states.
Residents in Phase 1 states are allowed to use public recreational parks starting tomorrow, but strictly for individual activities such as jogging and cycling, and in compliance with the standard operating procedures.
They can only visit parks in their neighbourhoods, and are prohibited from crossing district or state lines.
“I would like to stress that local authorities and the relevant agencies are responsible for ensuring SOP compliance at public recreational parks, and fully responsible for the implementation of the SOPs laid out,” said Muhyiddin.
As of yesterday, he said, fully vaccinated adults in the Klang Valley have reached 64.7%.
More sectors to reopen in Phase 2 states
In addition to the 11 economic sectors listed for Phase 1, states under Phase 2 will see the following 11 reopening tomorrow:
1. Shops offering photography services and items;
2. Stores selling second-hand items;
3. Florists and plant nurseries;
4. Handicraft and souvenir shops;
5. Antique stores;
6. Toy stores;
7. Carpet shops;
8. Outlets selling content and tools for the creative industry;
9. Stores selling outdoor equipment, including for camping and fishing;
10. Cosmetics, skincare and perfume shops; and,
11. Tobacco shops, including those selling e-cigarettes.
Similarly, business owners must ensure that customers show their digital vaccination certificate.
Curbs eased for some non-essential activities
Muhyiddin announced the easing of restrictions for non-essential activities in the manufacturing, construction, mining and quarrying sectors in Phases 1, 2 and 3 states effective tomorrow.
Their operation capacity is dependent on the number of fully vaccinated workers, as shown in the table below:
“I understand that this move might elicit a mixed reaction from the public, but many have lost their jobs, and this cannot be allowed to continue,” said the prime minister.
“I would like to remind all employers to adhere to and fulfil all the conditions before reopening to ensure worker and workplace safety.
“If employers do not adhere to the SOPs, workers are encouraged to report them to the Health Ministry ([email protected]), Home Ministry (aduan.sop@[email protected]), or Human Resources Ministry via the Working for Workers app.”
Langkawi travel bubble in the works
Muhyiddin said the government is in the midst of reviewing feedback from industry stakeholders to make Langkawi a pilot project for a tourism bubble.
The Health Ministry and other medical experts have suggested that this be implemented after at least 80% of the island’s residents have been fully inoculated.
Traveller numbers will be limited, and they will be required to be fully vaccinated. – The Vibes, August 15, 2021
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