Brunei is prepared for the transition period

[ASEAN NOW Content Team]

 

As the country enters the Transition Phase, businesses such as restaurants, cinemas, and salons will be allowed to reopen for fully vaccinated individuals on November 19, according to Minister at the Prime Minister's Office and Minister of Finance and Economy II Dato Seri Setia Dr Awang Mohd Amin Liew Abdullah (pic) (Nov 9).

The Transition Phase, according to the minister, will commence as soon as the Sultanate obtains full immunisation coverage of 70% of the total population on November 19.

 

"During this Transition Phase, we must constantly collaborate and exercise caution while adhering to regulations, laws, and established norms in order to prevent Covid-19 from spreading, while also ensuring that security authorities continue to monitor any protocol violations."

"This is because studies have shown that this virus cannot be eradicated and that it might spread swiftly again if we do not follow the guidelines," the minister explained.

 

Individuals who are properly vaccinated will be allowed to gather in public venues such as sports facilities, as well as commercial establishments such as restaurants, cafes, food courts, theatres, arcades, indoor playgrounds, beauty establishments (such as salons and barber shops), markets, and tamu.

Government offices will also reopen, according to the minister, with staff who have completed their immunizations.

 

The office is open from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Every two weeks, employees will be subjected to Antigen Rapid Test (ART) screening.

Mosques, suraus, and religious halls across the country will reopen for those who have completed their immunizations, with attendance limitations set by appropriate numbers depending on physical distance.

Capacity limitations for businesses and other facilities will remain at 50% or no more than 200 people, whichever is lower.

 

Other religions' houses of worship are subject to the same capacity restrictions.

The premises' management is responsible for ensuring that their personnel are completely vaccinated and updating the list of workers in the Bruhealth app.

QR code rules are still in effect, with establishments required to register their QR codes and ensuring that all visitors scan the code with their BruHealth app.

This covers all employees, volunteers, and contractors.

 

The minister reminded businesses that only people with green or yellow Bruhealth codes should enter, and that face masks should be worn unless when eating and drinking.

Other standards, such as maintaining a physical separation of at least 1.5 metres, self-health monitoring, and ART testing on a regular basis, as well as ensuring that the premises have proper ventilation, are still in operation.

During the Transition Phase, gatherings in private houses are permitted for those who have finished their immunizations and are limited to 10 to 30 persons depending on the size of the residence, according to the minister.

 

Some schools, such as higher education institutions, technical and vocational schools, and driving schools, will reopen for students who have finished their immunizations and are taking ART screening tests every two weeks.

Mandatory vaccination requirements, according to the minister, apply to teaching staff, non-teaching school employees, school guardians, children's daycare centres, trainers, and others, with the exception of those who have been excused owing to health issues such as allergies.

 

Those who have been medically exempted from immunizations are not permitted to enter the premises during this period.

The minister stated that procedures for reopening schools, children's daycare centres, and other learning institutions will be revealed at a later date, and that adults aged 12 to 17 are still being vaccinated, while children under the age of 12 have yet to be vaccinated.

"Every business premise that is allowed to open during the Transition Phase must follow the criteria and protocols that have been established," the minister explained.