Izah Azahari
By the consent of His Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu’izzaddin Waddaulah ibni Al-Marhum Sultan Haji Omar ‘Ali Saifuddien Sa’adul Khairi Waddien, Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam, the Early Endemic Phase under the COVID-19 National Recovery Plan Framework has been extended for another month from May 1 until May 31.
The announcement was made by Minister of Home Affairs Pehin Orang Kaya Seri Kerna Dato Seri Setia (Dr) Haji Awang Abu Bakar bin Haji Apong during the daily press conference yesterday. The COVID-19 Steering Committee also updated terms of guidelines, whereby all government officers and staff including those working at service counters and as frontliners – regardless of their vaccination status – (except those with Purple BruHealth code) are required to physically return on duty to their offices beginning April 25.
“Further details on this will be announced through the Circular Letter of the Prime Minister’s Office today,” the minister said, adding that the private sector is also encouraged to implement these guidelines and further consideration is subject to employers.
Meanwhile, the minister said that the Day Pass Protocol provided for red-coded government officers and staff to replace the quarantine requirement with a negative antigen rapid test (ART) result for a five-day period will be extended, starting May 6.
Pehin Orang Kaya Seri Kerna Dato Seri Setia (Dr) Haji Awang Abu Bakar said those coded red will be required to report and verify their negative ART result daily for five days through the BruHealth app to allow them to enter premises daily.
With regard to registered domestic runners under the Ministry of Transport and Infocommunications (MTIC), the minister said they are required to perform the ART twice a week and upload the ART results to the BruHealth app.
“Domestic runners are no longer required to undergo RT-PCR every fortnight, similar to the requirement for transporters announced previously in a media statement by the COVID-19 Steering Committee,” he said.
The minister noted that the extension of the Early Endemic Phase and updating of guidelines take into account the condition of daily COVID-19 infections which has become more stable; increasing vaccination rates for the third dose (both adults and teenagers) including vaccination rates for children; in addition to ensuring that conditions are stable after schools re-open and employees fully return to their offices, as well as updated cross-border guidelines.
“The COVID-19 Steering Committee will continue to monitor and examine the current COVID-19 situation for the well-being of citizens and residents of the country before transitioning to the next phase, Insya Allah,” said the minister.
The public is reminded to not to be complacent and to adhere to standard operating procedures (SOPs) and health protocols, including physical distancing, ensuring venue capacity limits, wearing face masks, maintaining cleanliness, and mandatory use of the BruHealth app.
The use of ART prior to entering a premise is highly encouraged and premise owners are advised to ensure good air ventilation.
