The government has introduced sector guidelines and fines for the public and private sector, as well as personal activities, during the transition phase that started on November 19.
The sector guidelines were announced on the Prime Minister’s Office’s website on November 12, while fines up to $5,000 for violating them were announced by the Ministry of Health (MoH) on November 18.
The transition phase is the final preparatory stage before endemicity under the National COVID-19 Recovery Framework, and runs until November 30, subject to potential extensions based on several factors including reaching the endemic phase target of 80% of the population being fully vaccinated.
There are currently 29 separate sector and activity guidelines grouped into four categories, along with an advisory on taking antigen rapid tests (ART).
Businesses, operators, and individuals are required to adhere to the guidelines when partaking in the listed activity or sector.
The private sector has also been advised to follow the government’s standard operating procedures (SOP) for ART, which is to be taken every two weeks by all staff entering the office.
The sector guidelines share a few similarities to the de-escalation guidelines after Brunei’s first wave last year, but with the second wave this year seeing the presence of the more serious delta variant, increased community spread, and the availability of vaccines – more detailed SOPs have been put in place.
In general, the transition phase maintains the mandate of wearing face masks and leaving the house or entering premises with green or yellow BruHealth codes. However, now only the fully vaccinated (double dose) can enter government or business premises, who must cap their sites at 50% capacity.
Individual sites or shop units must follow the 50% capacity or 200 persons – whichever is less – however larger sites with multiple units such as malls or office buildings can exceed 200 persons within the entire location provided it is still within the 50% limit.
Partially vaccinated persons can preform isolated work in the critical sectors of oil and gas and agriculture; construction may also be considered if there is no contact with the community.
The unvaccinated – which currently includes children below 12-years-old – and the partially vaccinated are allowed to leave their house for medical care, including at private clinics, and can visit open air spaces such as beaches and parks for recreation without interacting with persons outside their household.
The sector guidelines also limit private gatherings involving members outside one’s household to two sessions a week. Indoor gatherings at residences are limited to 30 persons for larger houses with four or more bedrooms, with the residence’s outdoor compound can allow for up to 200 persons if social distancing parameters can be maintained between guests. .
When dining out or at private events, buffets are not permitted. Taking ART before personal engagements, or going out, is encouraged. Recreational hotels stays are also permitted for the fully vaccinated.
MoH Minister YB Dato Seri Setia Dr Hj Mohd Isham Hj Jaafar has also advised premises to accept local and foreign vaccination certificates from visitors should their BruHealth not be updated to reflect taking their second doses.
The app is currently experiencing issues with with some not having their status automatically updated after completing their second dose. Issues can reported to the 148 hotline or bruhealth.support@moh.gov.bn.
