PH sets out how to give ‘green pass’ for fully-vaccinated

 

The Pakatan Harapan health committee said the shift in strategy must be from “stay at home” to “stay safe”.

PETALING JAYA: The Pakatan Harapan health committee has proposed that four conditions be met before the government considers granting special privileges for those who have been fully vaccinated.

Warning that any hasty decision could lead to a surge in Covid-19 cases, the opposition coalition said the “green pass” for the fully-vaccinated should come after :

• vaccination coverage of a particular area to be at least 60%
• all high-risk groups, especially the elderly and those with comorbidities, to be fully inoculated
• the load on the health system capacity in the particular locality should not be more than 70%; and
• a national testing plan is in place.

Only when these parameters are met should Putrajaya consider granting extra privileges or a “green pass” to those who have been fully vaccinated, the committee said in a statement.

However, it proposed that privileges or even the easing of movement restrictions be granted on an “intra-state, intra-economy” basis first before expanding it when vaccination coverage improves and and all the other parameters are fulfilled consistently across all states.

The statement was issued by 15 PH elected representatives, including former health minister Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad, former deputy health minister Dr Lee Boon Chye, Bandar Kuching MP Dr Kelvin Yii and Selangor executive councillor Dr Siti Mariah Mahmud.

They said once the necessary parameters and vaccination status is achieved, such privileges will help with the transition in opening the nation safely and sustainably .

“The shift in strategy must be from stay at home to stay safe.”

They added that all outdoor recreation facilities, such as parks, swimming pools and zoos, should be allowed to be operational at 50% capacity.

Everyone should be allowed to access these open air facilities, they said.

“Such privileges will also entail near normalisation of economic functions of society accessible to the vaccinated.”

They also called on the federal government to continue ramping up vaccination to provide adequate coverage in all states to expedite the “re-booting of our economy”.

Earlier today, Putrajaya 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 dining in at eateries in all states under Phase 2 of the National Recovery Plan. - FMT