NRP phase transition challenge for Melaka, says CM
MELAKA: The state government is bracing for a setback in moving to Phase Two of the National Recovery Plan (NRP) in view of the increasing number of Covid-19 cases here.
Chief Minister Datuk Seri Sulaiman Md Ali said he hoped the Federal Government would revise the threshold values for the main indicators to enable small states like Melaka to move into the next phase.
“Melaka will face difficulties in moving into the second phase with an average of 114 cases per day.
“The state has only one hospital to treat critically ill Covid-19 patients who need intensive care unit support,” he added.
The three key threshold value indicators for transition into Phase Two are that the number of daily Covid-19 cases drops to a certain figure, rates at ICUS reach a moderate level and 10% of the population are fully vaccinated.
Sulaiman said the state government also hoped that interstate travel would be allowed for those who had received two doses of the vaccine.
“This is the only way we can revive our tourism industry. We are happy to hear that the Prime Minister is considering relaxing the travel ban for those who have completed their vaccination,” he said.
He added that a suggestion had been made to ramp up vaccinations among tourism players in the state.
Some 8,000 workers in the retail sector in the state are expected to get vaccinated via the retail industry vaccination programme (RIVAC) next week, he said.
“The same model can be used to vaccinate those in the tourism industry,” he added.