KUALA LUMPUR – The National Security Council (NSC) has agreed to upgrade the Klang Valley to Phase 2 of the National Recovery Plan (NRP) effective Friday, said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob.
A special meeting on Covid-19 management today decided that the move applies to Selangor, Kuala Lumpur and Putrajaya.
In a statement, Ismail Sabri said under the relaxed restrictions, inter-district travel is allowed for fully vaccinated individuals.
He said long-distance couples who are fully immunised are allowed to cross state lines, and the same goes for parents wanting to visit their children below 18 years old.
Dine-in is permitted for fully vaccinated customers, he said, while tourism activities can resume, but are limited to within the Klang Valley, involving hotels and homestays, and also only for those who have received both vaccine doses.
“The task force has decided that Selangor, and the Federal Territories of Kuala Lumpur and Putrajaya will be treated as one area. Therefore, travel between these states is allowed, and there will be no more roadblocks.”
He said the task force also agreed to loosen restrictions on sports, exercise, and recreational activities for states under Phase 1.
Sports activities, excluding gymnasium operations, will be allowed for the fully vaccinated.
“Commercial sports and recreational facilities (indoors) will be allowed to operate with monitoring, and only for customers who have completed their vaccination.
“The use of these facilities needs to be on an appointment basis, and there must be compliance with the SOPs.”
This decision is based on risk assessments done by the Health Ministry and NSC, and will take effect on Friday, he said.
On the commercial and distribution sectors, Ismail Sabri said florists, nurseries, outdoor equipment shops and property showrooms can resume operations on Friday.
As for states in Phases 2 and 3, barbers, hairdressers and beauty salons will be allowed to reopen.
“The SOPs will be updated by NSC and the related ministries,” said the prime minister.
This comes after Federal Territories Minister Datuk Seri Shahidan Kassim said Kuala Lumpur and Putrajaya appeared set to enter Phase 2 on Friday.
He said Labuan will be opened to travellers under a tourism bubble programme similar to that implemented for Langkawi.
Langkawi is set to welcome tourists on September 16 – the same day fixed for Labuan.
Bernama, citing Covid-19 Immunisation Task Force statistics, said all three Federal Territories of Kuala Lumpur, Putrajaya and Labuan have surpassed their target of getting 80% of their populations fully vaccinated as of September 2.
The Vibes today reported that the Klang Valley looks ready to enter Phase 2 of NRP, based on the sizeable decline in its Covid-19 caseload over the last two days. – The Vibes, September 8, 2021
