KUALA LUMPUR – As fully vaccinated individuals are expected to head out of state this weekend, Health Minister Khairy Jamaluddin has issued another friendly reminder to adhere to Covid-19 standard operating procedures (SOPs).
“Please keep your masks on especially indoors and in crowded places. #ReopeningSafely does not mean we do not comply with SOPs,” he tweeted this morning.
Please keep your masks on especially indoors and in crowded places. #ReopeningSafely does not mean we do not comply with SOPs.
— Khairy Jamaluddin ??? (@Khairykj) October 16, 2021
Yesterday, the Health Ministry also tweeted him saying that interstate travellers should conduct self-tests before departing.
Khairy had advised Malaysians to not be complacent or set aside existing SOPs, adding that the ministry advises travellers to do self -tests.
“Buy a saliva test kit and do a test before you leave. We don’t want to bring the virus back to our parents.
"Jangan leka dan mengenepikan SOP sedia ada. Kita (KKM) nasihatkan lebih baik lakukan ujian kendiri. Beli kit ujian air liur (saliva) dan lakukan satu ujian sebelum kita berlepas. Kita taknak bawa virus itu balik ke orang tua kita." @Khairykj pic.twitter.com/KbVihNX7jn
— KKMalaysia?? (@KKMPutrajaya) October 15, 2021
In addition, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob yesterday announced more SOP relaxations, including moving Kelantan, Perak, Penang, Sabah, and Kedah from Phase 2 to Phase 3, and Melaka and Klang Valley from Phase 3 to Phase 4, effective Monday.
Effective Monday, the time required for foreign visitors to self-quarantine has been reduced to seven days at home for those fully vaccinated and 10 days at quarantine stations for those who have not completed their shots.
The time required for close contacts of Covid-19 patients to quarantine at home has also been reduced to seven days for the fully vaccinated and 10 days for the unvaccinated.
E-hailing vehicles will be allowed to operate at full capacity from today onwards. Rest and service stations will be allowed to operate 24 hours, and cyber cafes are also set to reopen tomorrow.
This came after the nation recorded daily Covid-19 numbers below 10,000 for two straight weeks, and a decline in infectivity rate to an R-naught value of 0.86.
Meanwhile, Bernama reported that traffic on several major highways heading out of the Klang Valley was under control last night despite the long weekend break.
Klang Valley residents are expected to return to their hometowns this weekend in conjunction with the Maulidur Rasul public holiday on Tuesday.
A check at the Duta Toll Plaza, Sg Besi Toll Plaza and Gombak Toll Plaza, which are the main exits for Klang Valley residents heading to the north, south, and east coast, found that the traffic was smooth sailing.
Selangor Traffic Investigation and Enforcement Department chief Azman Shariat said he expects no congestion at the toll plazas over the weekend.
“Maybe because many road users have planned their journey in advance to avoid congestion,” he told the media at the Gombak toll plaza last night. – The Vibes, October 16, 2021
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