Malaysia to ease Covid-19 curbs for fully vaccinated people in 8 states

Malaysia to allow dining in at restaurants, outdoor individual sports and interstate tourism for people vaccinated against Covid-19 in eight states

Malaysia will relax some Covid-19 restrictions for fully vaccinated people in eight states that have met criteria such as reduced case numbers and higher vaccination rates, Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin said on Sunday.

The measures, which will allow dining in at restaurants, outdoor individual sports and interstate tourism, will take effect on Tuesday, Muhyiddin said in a televised address.

"I understand, many are tired of the pandemic or are dealing with pandemic fatigue," he said.

Malaysia has been under lockdown since June 1, and while daily infections continue to hit record highs, several states last month began showing progress against the pandemic and started partially lifting curbs.

The measures announced on Sunday will not affect the capital Kuala Lumpur and surrounding areas, where infection rates remain the highest in the nation.

The government will also allow fully vaccinated citizens and foreign residents to quarantine at home upon returning from abroad, regardless of their state of residence.

An individual is considered fully vaccinated 14 days after the second dose of vaccine, or after 28 days for single-dose vaccines.

Health authorities on Sunday reported 18,688 new infections, and a record death tally of 360.

Vaccination rates have increased quickly since mid-July, however, and 66.4% of the adult population has received at least one dose of vaccine.

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This story has been published from a wire agency feed without modifications to the text. Only the headline has been changed.