THE national recovery plan will have four phases that will entail a gradual easing of movement restrictions, said Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin in a special address today on the country’s way forward out of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Progression to the next recovery phase will depend on three indicators:

• the number of Covid-19 cases daily
• the capacity of the healthcare system, including beds available in intensive care units (ICU)
• the percentage of the population that has been vaccinated against Covid-19.

The four-phased recovery plan entails:

Phase 1 or movement control order: the current phase nationwide.

Daily Covid-19 cases remain high and the healthcare system is at full capacity. The vaccination rate is also still low.

Phase 2: to begin when the average number of new Covid-19 infections falls below 4,000.

The healthcare system must also not be at a critical stage, and 10% of the population must be vaccinated.

“Under Phase 2, movement controls will still be tight but economic activities can be reopened in stages subject to 80% workforce on site,” said Muhyiddin.

“However, interstate travel and social actives will still be prohibited,” he added.

Phase 3: to begin when the average number of new Covid-19 infections falls below 2,000 per day.

ICU bed capacity must have been reduced and the healthcare system is at a “comfortable” stage.

At least 40% of the population must be vaccinated.

“The earliest we can achieve these numbers is estimated to be end of August,” said Muhyiddin.

Under Phase 3, all economic sectors (other than those on the high-risk list) will be reopened at workforce capacity of 80%. High-risk economic activities are considered to be close-contact and crowded spaces.

“Considerations to increasing the workforce capacity can be given to enable companies to operate fully, as long as all workers have been vaccinated,” Muhyiddin said, adding that social activities, including education and sports, will also be reopened in phases.

Phase 4 can begin after Covid-19 cases are less than 500 daily, and at least 60% of the population is vaccinated.

Muhyiddin said the government aims to begin Phase 4 after October, once the above indicators are achieved.

In this final phase, all economic sectors will be fully reopened, while social activities, interstate travel and domestic tourism will be allowed under tight standard operating procedures (SOP).

However, the prime minister added that the exit plan is “dynamic” and would depend on the main indicators.

He said the National Security Council would be issued detailed SOP for each of the phases. – June 15, 2021.