Walk-in vaccinations begin today
The national immunisation drive shifts into higher gear from today with walk-ins permitted at designated vaccination centres (PPV) in the Klang Valley. Malaysians aged 40 and above and locals with comorbidities can get their jabs at any of the PPV involved (see graphics) until Wednesday. From Aug 5-22, the walk-in exercise will be expanded to all Malaysians aged above 18 in the Klang Valley. Foreigners are also divided into the two categories and can get their jabs from Aug 9-11 and Aug 12-22. The government has stated that the walk-ins are only for Klang Valley residents. Individuals who already have appointments are not allowed. They are also not allowed to cancel their appointments to opt for the walk-in. The walk-in exercise is part of the government’s effort to vaccinate 80% of the population. Undocumented workers who have taken their jabs are encouraged to convince their friends to come out and do so too. National Covid-19 Immunisation Programme coordinating minister Khairy Jamaluddin had said that the walk-in exercise would be expanded to other states soon, with priority given to senior citizens. (The Star)
MOH releases step-by-step home isolation guide for positive cases in Greater Klang Valley
The Health Ministry has released a step-by-step video guide on how to self-isolate for those who have tested positive for Covid-19 in the Greater Klang Valley. The ministry said this would make it easier for the healthcare authorities to assist those affected. “If you have tested positive, you have to isolate yourself at home for 10 days, away from other people in the same house. A digital Home Surveillance Order (HSO) will be issued through your MySejahtera application. You have to carry out daily self-checks using the Home Assessment Tool (HAT) in MySejahtera. You will get a text message or a call from the Health Ministry if you do not do your self-assessment,” said the ministry in a video. “If you have symptoms or are in the high-risk category, please physically go to the nearest Covid-19 assessment centre (CAC). If you face breathing difficulties or need emergency treatment, please go to the nearest hospital. For further details, please visit covid-19.moh.gov.my,” it said. The Greater Klang Valley region encompasses Selangor, Kuala Lumpur, southern Perak, northern Negri Sembilan and western Pahang. (The Star)
Opposition lawmakers gather at Merdeka Square as authorities shut Parliament
Opposition federal lawmakers gathered at the Merdeka Square this morning in a symbolic protest against the authorities’ move to shut and adjourn the special Parliament sitting amid mounting pressure for Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin to resign. Today’s protest, attended by all Opposition MPs, including those not from the major political bloc Pakatan Harapan, comes as top leaders of the Perikatan Nasional administration face growing calls to step down. Muhyididin’s government was admonished by the palace last Thursday in a rare royal rebuke that took aim at de facto Law Minister Datuk Seri Takiyuddin Hassan, who was accused of lying and revoking six ordinances enacted under the Emergency without the Agong’s assent. (Malay Mail)
More hotels up for sale due to pandemic
Covid-19 and the numerous movement control restrictions imposed since March last year have no doubt badly impacted the hospitality industry and forced many owners to put up their hotels for sale. Some of the recent casualties of the pandemic are Hotel Istana, Kuala Lumpur, which will cease to operate from Sept 1, while Mutiara Johor Bahru stopped operating on June 1 and Hotel Equatorial, Penang shuttered for good on end-March. Zerin Properties CEO Previndran Singhe said listings of hotels for sale have increased by 40%, “with both foreign and local investors eyeing the properties”, adding that the focus is more on the three- to five-star-category hotels. He, however also revealed that despite the interest shown, few deals have been done. “First, there is a slight price expectations mismatch, though we see this gap being met in recent months. Second, not all hotels that are for sale are truly investment grade and desirable to the investors. And, third, deals are being stalled because of the difficulty in mobilising teams to inspect the asset and conduct their due diligence,” he said. (The Edge)
Govt confident of vaccinating 50% of Malaysian adult population by Aug 31, says Khairy
The government is optimistic to achieve its target of fully vaccinating 50% of individuals aged 18 and above by Aug 31, said National Covid-19 Immunisation Programme (NIP) Coordinating Minister Khairy Jamaluddin. He said this was in view of the high vaccination rate at the moment, adding that 29% of the adult population had completed both doses of the vaccine so far. 59% of the population have received one dose. For the record, a total of 20,533,660 vaccine doses have been administered in the country as of yesterday, involving 13.8 million first jabs while 6.7 million recipients have completed both doses. In a related development, Khairy said the government was finalising the draft of the standard operating procedures relaxation for fully vaccinated individuals, adding that the matter will be announced by Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin soon. (Malay Mail)
Dr Noor Hisham: Special Parliament sitting postponed for two weeks from July 29 onwards
The special sitting of the Dewan Rakyat initially slated for tomorrow will be postponed for the next two weeks starting July 29, the Health Ministry announced yesterday. Health director-general Tan Sri Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah said the postponement took into account the current risk assessment involving mass gatherings, which posed a high risk of Covid-19 transmission, especially at times where dangerous variants such as the Delta variant — known as B.1.617.2 — are spreading within the community and the worsening daily cases recorded nationwide. “The risk assessment on the resurgence of Covid-19 infection in Parliament will be re-evaluated from time to time,” he said. Recounting the chronology of events prior to the special sitting on July 26, Dr Noor Hisham said 60 individuals out of 2,093 screened were found Covid-19 positive and were ordered to undergo isolation. He affirmed that all 60 were not present during the first day of the special sitting. (Malay Mail)
