Kota Kinabalu: The State Government decided on Sunday to adopt the Federal Government’s #ReopeningSafely Standard Operating Procedures (MYSOP) in transition towards the endemic phase with immediate effect.
Sabah’s Covid-19 Spokesperson Datuk Seri Masidi Manjun said the SOP was prescribed by the Health Director-General pursuant to Regulation 17 of Prevention And Control Of Infectious Diseases (Measures Within Infected Local Areas) (National Recovery Plan) (Transition Phase to Endemic) Regulations 2022 [P.U.(A) 83/2022].
“Guidelines for exclusive needs involving the Sabah State authority would be issued from time to time while taking into account the ongoing situation,” he said.
Under MYSOP, nine activity categories are subject to State authorities, namely (1) transportation and travel, (2) education and care, (3) retail, food and beverage, (4) enclosed workspace activities and (5) open workspace activities.
The others are (6) events, functions, entertainment and tourist attractions, (7) hotels and guest accommodation, (8), religious activities, weddings and funerals and (9) sports and recreation.
“Nightclub activities are not allowed,” said Masidi. He said the operating hours of all premises are subject to the Local Authority (PBT) and their licence, and must provide the MySejahtera QR code, while the use of a face mask is mandatory.
“Individuals are required to use a face mask in the presence of another person. However, the use of face masks is exempted during sports activities and performances (singing, dancing, lecturing), among others,” he added.
One-metre physical distancing is still required during activities. However, it is exempted for contact sports activities and congregants at the mosque/surau, among others.
For management of symptomatic individuals, Covid-19 cases and close contacts, Masidi said individuals must report their test results on the MySejahtera application if found positive and undergo self-isolation.
“Close contacts must undergo mandatory quarantine based on the Malaysian Health Ministry’s policies and undergo Covid-19 test if experiencing symptoms,” he added.
He said employers must bear the cost of Covid-19 screening if their employees are found symptomatic at the premise, as well as bear the cost of sanitisation works.
“Employers must also bear the isolation costs of the Covid-19 case and quarantine costs of close contacts. For civil servants, it is subject to the Government’s circular from time to time.
“Workplaces must adopt the digital Home Surveillance Order (HSO) for staff that are suspected or detected positive as proof that the staff is undergoing isolation or quarantine,” he added.
For further information and details, the public may access the MYSOP on www.mysop.gov.my.
Sabah’s cases dipped to 167 on Sunday from 234 the day earlier, as sporadic infections fell below half of the caseload with 43.71 per cent, the lowest since the Omicron wave started early February.
Sabah’s Covid-19 Spokesperson Datuk Seri Masidi Manjun said this was a sign that new infections are expected to decrease in the future, as risk of transmission also lowers in the community.
“It is hoped that the public will continue practising a high level of self-discipline in complying with the standard operating procedures (SOP), despite being in the endemic phase,” he said in a statement, Sunday.
No deaths and new clusters were recorded.
Masidi said Kota Kinabalu topped the list with 26 cases, followed by Papar (21), Penampang (17), Tuaran (14), Tambunan (12), Sandakan (12), Putatan (10) and Kota Marudu (8).
“Kota Kinabalu is among districts where the trend and cases are difficult to predict, as it could change drastically.
“This may be because Kota Kinabalu is the State Capital which is fast-paced, populated and is the main center of economic activity in Sabah
“Overall, there are signs of stabilisation in most districts, except for volatile districts such as Kota Kinabalu, Penampang and Tuaran where the cases are hard to predict,” he explained.
Masidi said the majority of cases were mild, with 158 out of 167 being category one and two infections, while one was in category three, and four each in category four and five.
