THE Parliament can be in session during the third phase of the four-phase COVID-19 National Recovery Plan Strategy – sometime in the months September and October – when the average number of daily cases has declined to below 2,000.
Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin in a live telecast today gave his commitment that the august house can function amid a tight standard operating procedure (SOP).
“This has been my stance from the start that our Parliamentary democracy can resume its function at an appropriate time, which is the number of COVID-19 cases has come under control and we have almost achieved herd immunity,” he noted in his address entitled National Recovery Plan: MCO Transition By Phases.
“I shall uphold the principles of Parliamentary democracy and constitutional monarchy. No quarters should create any restlessness and confusion among the public that disrupt the Government on-going efforts in curbing COVID-19 pandemic.”
According to Muhyiddin, the national healthcare system is deemed to be in comfortable level during the third phase period with a drop in the usage of beds at intensive care units (ICU) to a manageable level and with 40% of the population having received two doses of the COVID-19 vaccine.
“These thresholds are expected to be achieved earliest by end-August this year,” said Muhyiddin.
During this third phase, all manufacturing activities will also be allowed subject to SOP and capacity limit. Economic activities which will remain disallowed are those that are high risked because that entailed crowd such as the organising of convention and whereby social distancing cannot be adhered to such as pubs, spas and beauty salons.
“Capacity limits will be relaxed once employees have been inoculated,” noted the PM.
Earlier, Muhyiddin explained that transition from the first phase in the form of full movement control order (FMCO) a,k.a total lockdown to the second phase will take place once the average infection rate drops below 4,000; the public health system is no longer in critical state (bed usage at ICU returned to moderate level) and 10% of the population have received two doses of the COVID-19 vaccine.
“As a transition from the first phase, expect stringent social and movement restriction. Economic activities will be re-opened gradually with workforce capacity up to 80% at premises,” the PM said. “Social-oriented activities and inter-state travelling will remain prohibited.”
Meanwhile, the fourth and final phase in the National Recovery Plan will see the re-opening of all economic with more social activities allowed; the same applies to interstate travels and domestic tourism but subject to strict SOPs.
“We will move on to the fourth phase from the third phase once the average daily COVID-19 cases have dropped to below 500 cases; the public health system is at a safe level with bed usage in ICUs at an adequate level; and 60% of the population being fully vaccinated,” said Muhyiddin.
“Based on projections of the National COVID-19 Immunisation Programme, this transition is expected to take place the earliest by the end-October 2021.” – June 15, 2021
