Hishammuddin Risks Too High To Allow Fully Vaccinated To Cross Borders To Visit Parents

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Senior Minister (Security Cluster) Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein explained that this was because the total numbers of this group was huge. - NSTP file picKUALA LUMPUR: Those aged 18 and above and are fully vaccinated are not allowed to cross district and state borders to meet their parents as the risks are still too high.
Senior Minister (Security Cluster) Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein explained that this was because the total numbers of this group was huge.
"The total number of those who are single and above 18 is huge, and therefore the risk is too high.
"If we are to ease the restrictions now, that may lead to other problems if they are not disciplined, and do not adhere to the standard operating procedures.
"Therefore, currently, we only allow parents who are fully vaccinated to cross district or state borders to visit their children aged below 18 years.
"InsyaAllah, if this relaxation is a success and does not cause the number of cases to increase, we can ease the restrictions to include fully vaccinated 18-year-olds and above," he told reporters at a virtual press conference today.
Hishammuddin added that the decision to allow parents to visit their children aged 18 and below was done to protecting the mental health of the involved groups.
"This is based on the consideration for families who have been put under lockdown for quite some time.
"For the (others) out there, please wait a little while," he said.
On Sunday, Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin announced that the government has agreed to ease restrictions in the social sector for fully vaccinated individuals who reside in states under Phase Two and above of the National Recovery Plan (NRP), effective today.
Among the restrictions lifted were the ban on dine-ins, inter-district travel, sports and recreational activities without physical contact, as well as tourism activities within the same state involving homestays and hotels.
Earlier, Hishammuddin said the decision on the relaxations was made based on the implementation of the NRP and the Covid-19 National Immunisation Programme and the need for the government to focus on balancing health, the economy and well-being of the people.
"This involved the mental health of the rakyat after being impacted by the pandemic for a prolonged period. With this relaxation, the government hopes that the rakyat, particularly those have completed both doses, will feel a bit relieved.
"This is a calculated and careful approach after taking into account the benefit to about 3.97 million people who are residing in the states under Phase Two and Three of the NRP."
Hishammuddin said the decision was made after engagements with all stakeholders from the health, economic and social sectors.
"The government is aware of the concerns, especially after the emergence of new variants like the Delta variant.
"We have taken into account risk assessment data gathered by the Health Ministry and one of the important findings is that currently about 96 per cent of the new cases are under Category 1 and 2, which means, the vaccines given to the rakyat have been effective in protecting them.
"With this relaxation, control and preventive measures must be continued, including wearing of facemasks, practising physical distancing and maintaining self-hygiene.
"I believe that Malaysians are a responsible society and together, we can get out of the pandemic soon," he said. - NST

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