He noted that although the threshold indicator value of having 10% of the adult population vaccinated had been achieved, the number of Covid-19 cases and the level of bed usage in the intensive care unit (ICU) are still high. “The three key threshold indicator values in Selangor and Kuala Lumpur must be achieved before moving to Phase Two,” Ismail Sabri said in a media statement. To recap, the PPN is a four-phase exit strategy with the aim of gradually pushing Malaysia out of the Covid-19 crisis. The progression of these phases are heavily dependent on three factors, which includes the number of daily reported Covid-19 cases, the usage rate of ICU beds, and the completed vaccination rate (two doses) for Malaysian citizens.
As pointed out by prime minister Muhyiddin Yassin back in June, the first phase of the plan entails the implementation of the full movement control order across the entire nation. Phase 2 of PPN will see the opening of more sectors, such as industrial manufacturing as well as the allowed operations for more brick and mortar businesses. However, Malaysia must first fulfil the required criteria for the three aforementioned factors in order to progress into the next phase. These include having the average daily Covid-19 cases fall below 4,000, the healthcare system and ICU bed usage returning to moderate levels, and the full vaccination of the population reaching 10%. As noted by Ismail Sabri earlier, only one of three indicators have been accomplished in Selangor and Kuala Lumpur so far.
Malaysia was initially expected to enter Phase Two in early July, but this is now deemed unachievable as the number of daily Covid-19 cases are still exceeding over 10,000 for the last few days. As per his media statement on 14 July, the deputy prime minister is hopeful that the entire nation will enter the next phase of the National Recovery Plan by August. “If these positive developments continue, the whole country will be able to move to Phase Two in early August; such as how Perlis, Perak, Kelantan, Terengganu, Pahang, Penang, Sabah and Sarawak have done after surpassing the three thresholds under the NRP,” he said. (Source: Bernama)
