Brunei Darussalam will soon shift to economic recovery and the well-being of citizens and residents affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. The Minister at the Prime Minister's Office and Second Minister of Finance and Economy during the Media Conference said the implementation of a comprehensive framework that incorporates national strategies and includes an effective exit strategy, which is the National COVID-19 Recovery Plan Framework, is hoped to bring the country out of the pandemic state and into the endemic state. The framework includes the Preparation Phase, Transition Phase and Endemic Phase. According to Yang Berhormat, Brunei Darussalam is in the Preparatory Phase which includes movement control measures and the implementation of 'Operasi Pulih' as well as efforts to accelerate vaccination coverage. The next phase, the Transition Phase will begin to scale down the control measures in phases with specific SOP's, such as the reopening of mosques, workplaces, commercial establishments and schools in accordance with adjusted capacity limits and guidelines. The phase will only be carried out after the national vaccination programme coverage reaches at least 70 per cent, which is expected to occur at the end of November 2021.

Yang Berhormat added the framework's objective is to facilitate a safe transition towards full recovery and into an endemic phase, comprising a fulcrum of change that would enable the country to continue to recover and exit from the pandemic state, with the hope of minimising disruptions to everyday life in ways similar to how the country had dealt with other past endemics such as H1N1. The endemic phase would constitute a stable environment in which healthcare centres have the capacity to control the infection cases with orderly management of the criticality of patients, and resilient economic recovery.

In this regard, the Steering Committee for COVID-19 will continue to monitor, examine and assess the implementation and effectiveness of this framework through the strategies that are set from time to time, and this includes the implementation of Operasi Pulih as the country's instrument of recovery. The Whole of Nation approach with the combined involvement of government agencies, private sector organisations, non-government organisations, stakeholders including volunteers and the general public in actualising the framework, is to ensure the safety, well-being and stability of Brunei Darussalam. Apart from that it would also enable the national economy recovery disrupted by the pandemic, which would entail the restoration of daily lives as in previous times. More importantly are the ability to adapt to the new normal by learning to live with post-pandemic COVID-19. Although the virus will continue to be around, but with Allah's blessing and through orderly planning such as the implementation of the phases under the National Recovery Plan as well as cooperation from all communities, the country will be able to adapt to the new normal post COVID-19 pandemic.

Source: Radio Television Brunei