Deputy Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob today announced an easing of Covid-19 restrictions under Phase 1 and Phase 2 of the National Recovery Plan (NRP).

Ismail Sabri said the easing was due to “positive development of the national vaccination rate.”

Among the easing are as follow:

Phase 1

- Capacity for public servant attendance at offices increased from 20 percent to 40 percent.

- Accountancy services will be allowed to resume operation at 60 percent capacity.

- Daily and public market hours extended: 6am-4pm (Previous: 6am-2pm).

- Controlled fresh market (pasar segar terkawal) hours extended: 7am-2pm (Previous: 7am-12pm)

- Cycling and individual exercise allowed within one’s own neighbourhood

- Ports, airports and logistics sectors can operate for 24 hours.

Phase 2

- Outdoor film shooting allowed

- Business hours extended: 6am-10pm (Previous: 8am to 8pm).

Active Covid-19 cases today stood at 128,997, the highest since the start of the pandemic in Jan 2020.

Daily Covid-19 deaths also climbed to a record high of 153 yesterday.

However, the vaccination efforts against Covid-19 have ramped up significantly.

An average of 410,968 vaccine doses a day were administered last week compared to 339,060 a day in the preceding week.

This is expected to increase with the setting up of more vaccination centres.

At present, the states and territories under Phase 1 of the NRP are Selangor, Kuala Lumpur, Negeri Sembilan, Kedah, Labuan, Johor, Malacca and Putrajaya.

Those under Phase 2 are Sabah, Penang, Sarawak, Perak, Pahang, Terengganu, Kelantan and Perlis.

Penang, Sarawak, Perak and Pahang have since regressed, failing to meet the seven-day average cases needed to be in Phase 2.

However, Finance Minister Tengku Zafrul Tengku Abdul Aziz had said states that have moved into Phase 2 won't revert to Phase 1.

Phase 2 allows more businesses to operate but most other restrictions remain.

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