Transitioning between phases will be dictated by three key indicators: the average number of daily cases, the state of the country’s health system and how many people are fully vaccinated.

For the first time since the pandemic began, the government has provided a clear roadmap of the journey to normalcy.

Here’s what needs to happen:

Phase 1 (Present)

Due to the high number of cases, the overwhelming strain placed on the country’s system and low vaccination rates, most sectors have been shut to minimise transmission.

Limits have been placed on essential services, while non-essential services have either been forced to cease operations or operate on a work-from-home basis.

All social activities have been barred, and interstate travel is largely banned, except with police permission.

Phase 2 (Projected early July)

If the current lockdown is successful in lowering cases and keeping people out of hospitals, and the national vaccine roll-out continues to accelerate as it has in recent weeks, the country will move on to the next phase of the recovery plan.

This transition will happen once the average number of cases drops to 4,000 a day, the health system is no longer at a critical level and ICU bed usage is reduced to a moderate level.

While social activities and travel between states will likely remain prohibited, there will be some relaxation. Industries like cement manufacturing and the sale of electrical items will be allowed, 80% of employees will be allowed to go to work in some sectors and more economic sectors will be allowed.

Phase 3 (Projected late August)

This phase will bring with it more dramatic changes, and will come about once daily cases fall below 2,000 on average, the health system reaches a manageable level and at least 40% of the population is fully vaccinated.

At long last, Parliament will reconvene with strict but yet-to-be-announced SOPs in place.

All economic sectors will be allowed to operate except those that involve crowds or pose a high risk of transmission, such as bars and beauty salons. Large, physical conventions will also remain on pause.

Education and sporting activities will resume slowly, all manufacturing sectors will be allowed to operate, and capacity limits at workplaces may be lifted if all workers have been vaccinated.

Phase 4 (Projected late October)

The promised land.

If daily cases stay under 500, the health system remains in good shape and 60% of the population is fully vaccinated, Muhyiddin said the country could finally return to something resembling “normal”.

All economic sectors will be allowed to operate, more social activities will be allowed and at long last, interstate borders will reopen and domestic tourism can resume with strict SOPs in place.

The prime minister said that specific and detailed SOPs for each phase will be announced at a later date by the National Security Council, and reminded Malaysians that the dates he mentioned were not etched in stone.

“This is a dynamic plan, where if we succeed in the three key indicators in any phase, the government can decide to move on to the next one.”