Sabah Not Ready To Allow Inter District Travel

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Long distance couples, parents who have received both doses of the Covid-19 vaccine may travel interstate and inter-district in all states, except Sabah. (Bernama pic)KOTA KINABALU: The revised SOPs for Sabah, which is under Phase 2 of the national recovery plan (NRP), seems to suggest that inter-district travel for the fully vaccinated is still not allowed.
This is after the SOPs, which was included in Sabah local government and housing minister Masidi Manjun’s daily Covid-19 statement today, failed to mention the criteria under the “movement control within the state” section.
Putrajaya had previously announced the relaxation of several rules for those who have been fully vaccinated from Aug 10. It includes allowing couples in long-distance relationships to travel and meet each other as well as parents to visit their children below the age of 18.
Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin said the easing of the restrictions applies to all phases of the NRP, adding inter-district travel will also be allowed for fully vaccinated individuals in states under Phase 2 of the plan.
These individuals are required to show their Covid-19 digital certificate to authorities at roadblocks to prove that they have been fully inoculated.
However, while the new Sabah SOPs stated fully vaccinated couples in long-distance relationships and parents are allowed to make interstate and inter-district travel, it however fell short of specifying whether other fully vaccinated individuals could make inter-district trips.
These couples and parents are also required to have a police permit as well as other supporting documents to make the inter-district trips while outstation couples and parents intending to enter Sabah are subjected to entry conditions by the state government.
It is understood that the Sabah government is reluctant to fully implement the policy over inter-district travel as announced by Putrajaya due to the rising number of infections in the state.
FMT has reached out to Masidi for comments.
The SOPs also stated that inter-district travel is not allowed except for emergencies such as death, for medical reasons, or in the event of a disaster; official work with supporting letter from employer; essential services; and Covid-19 vaccination appointment.
Apart from that, the SOPs mentioned that fully vaccinated people intending to enter Sabah on official duty are not required to undergo quarantine and Covid-19 swab tests while being in the state. Those staying for more than three days must update their health status through MySejahtera.
They are also required to apply for police permission for interstate travel besides testing negative to RT-PCR tests within three days before travelling.
Those who have yet to complete their vaccination will be placed under home quarantine for 10 days besides being required to take a RTK-Antigen test on the eighth day after arriving in the state.
Meanwhile, dining-in is now allowed at all eateries but operators must ensure only fully vaccinated staff and customers, with a low-risk status on their MySejahtera, enter their premises.
As for supermarkets and hypermarkets, only customers and workers of these outlets who have been fully vaccinated are allowed to enter the premises. - FMT

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