Offices in Malaysia can now operate at 100% capacity only if all employees are fully-vaccinated: PM

PM Ismail Sabri has announced a number of reopening measures - including those states that are moving to the next phase of NRP, reopening of business operations for spas & wellness centres, interstate travel to tourist centres, and more.

Those offices in Malaysia which have all employees fully-vaccinated can now operate with 100% capacity, Malaysia's Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob has announced on 22 September 2021 (Wednesday).

This is part of several reopening measures that PM announced in a statement, all of which are detailed below. 

More businesses to open up or extend operations

• Effective 23 September 2021, grocery stores, mini markets, restaurants, oil licenses and convenience stores are allowed to operate from 6 am to 12 pm.
• Spas, wellness centers, and health massages are allowed to operate, in cases of having visitors and operators who have received a full dose of the vaccine, effective 1 October 2021.
• Tourism centers/ premises/ products such as zoos, plantations, aquariums, snorkeling, scuba diving, fishing tourism and amusement parks, are allowed to operate in all phases of NRP, with effect from 1 October 2021, as long as all operators and visitors fully vaccinated.

Tourism within and travel into Malaysia

• Tourist centers, islands or tourist areas as well as state recreational activities are allowed to open up, as long as they have attained 90% adult vaccination rates based on data and analysis that has been discussed by the MOH
• Foreigners arriving at the international gateway must bear the cost of the RT-PCR test to enter the country, while this testing facility is free for Malaysian citizens. 

Areas moving to the next phase of NRP 

Three areas have made progress in the National Recovery Plan (NRP). Starting 24 September 2021 (Friday), Negeri Sembilan will move from Phase Three to Phase Four; Pahang will move from Two to Three, and Johor from One to Two. Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for states entering Phases Two, Three, and Four is the same as before, per PM's statement. 

PM Ismail noted these decisions were made based on the current risk assessment discussed by the Ministry of Health (MOH, or Kementerian Kesihatan) and the National Security Council (Majlis Keselamatan Negara).

Per SOPs announced previously, for Phase Four, public and private sector workplaces are allowed to operate at 100% capacity; Phase Two, on the other hand, sees attendance in the office not exceeding a capacity of 60% at a time, with 40% of employees placed in BDR by rotation; while 80% and 20% respectively for Phase Three. However, it was not explained in the statement (dated 22 September) if the new rules on allowing 100% capacity for fully-vaccinated employees overrides the previous SOPs on office capacity (in August 2021).

ALSO READ: SOPs for fully-vaccinated individuals in Malaysia: Phases 1, 2 and 3 of NRP [Aug 2021]

Image / PM Ismail's Facebook

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