In a statement today, he said Kedah will move into Phase 2 on Friday.
“With the decision by the special committee on Covid-19 pandemic management to allow Kedah to move from Phase 1 to Phase 2, it means there will no longer be any states in Phase 1,” Ismail said.
Kedah will join Penang, Perak, Kelantan, Johor and Sabah in Phase 2.
Perlis, Pahang, Terengganu and Sarawak are currently in Phase 3 while Negeri Sembilan and Labuan are in Phase 4.
Meanwhile, stadiums and recreational venues for states in Phase 2, 3 and 4 are now allowed to admit adult spectators who have been fully vaccinated.
“They will have to wear face masks throughout the matches and are forbidden from eating or drinking while at the venue.
Ismail, who is also the chairman of the special committee on Covid-19 pandemic management, said they have also decided to allow official government and private functions, including inaugurations and workshops, in states that are in Phase 2 and Phase 3, but strictly for participants who have been fully vaccinated.
However, Phase 2 and Phase 3 states will have to abide by a 50% capacity for venues hosting such functions while states in Phase 4 can allow full capacity.
For participants who have not been vaccinated, Ismail said they would have to undergo a pre-event test using a Covid-19 self-test kit before attending the event.
“This pre-event testing may either be witnessed by the organiser or it can otherwise be confirmed by a medical practitioner,” he added.
According to Ismail, the committee also agreed to reopen the skills training sector and industrial training centres – including vocational colleges and training institutions – for all states and federal territories, but subject to the SOPs.
He said this was in line with the reopening of institutes of higher learning effective Oct 15.
“Although the government is loosening some restrictions, I hope the rakyat will continue to adhere to established SOPs in an effort to break the chain of infection,” Ismail said.
“The country is now heading into an endemic phase, where we will continue to live together with Covid-19 in the new norm.”
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