‘Businesses can stay open’

 

PUTRAJAYA: Stricter standard operating procedures will be introduced during the movement control order that has been extended until Feb 18 but businesses will be allowed to stay open, said Senior Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob.

The high number of Covid-19 infections warrants the stricter measures, he added.

He cited an example where previously, there was no limit imposed by supermarkets on how many people were allowed inside and this had, at times, caused overcrowding, which must be avoided during the pandemic.

“After this, the management in supermarkets must limit the number of people in the premises so that there will be no overcrowding, ” he said yesterday.

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The National Security Council (NSC) will come out with the SOP for businesses and the public to observe, he added.

Unlike last year’s MCO that saw a lockdown on almost all economic and business sectors, the current MCO allows for a large number of businesses to remain operational.

Ismail Sabri announced that the MCO for all states in the peninsula as well as Labuan and Sabah will be extended from Feb 5 to Feb 18.

The current MCO is supposed to end tomorrow.

Sarawak will remain under a conditional MCO for now.

The senior minister added that health authorities had presented their risk assessment to the NSC, which found that clusters were behind 20% to 40% of the positive cases reported daily.

Sporadic infection within the community was still affecting citizens and non-citizens alike.

“Following the risk assessment and advice from the Health Ministry, the NSC special meeting agreed to extend the MCO for another 14 days, ” he said.

To prevent new infections and clusters from emerging, interstate travel will not be allowed, he said.

Also not allowed are social activities, he said, adding that these decisions were made based on data provided by the Health Ministry.

“When we allowed interstate travel previously, it contributed to an increase in positive cases.

“In fact, 31 clusters emerged due to interstate travel, ” he said.

He said other businesses such as car wash centres, hairdressers and hair salons had appealed to the government to allow them to open.

He said that all appeals and applications are being looked into by the NSC technical committee, health authorities and relevant ministries.

“They are responsible for making risk assessments and submitting proposals to the NSC special meeting on whether to allow these businesses to reopen, ” he said, adding that all appeals will be looked into.

A list of sectors allowed to open and the ones which have not can be accessed on the NSC website at www.mkn.gov.my.The authorities are also in the midst of drafting the SOP for the upcoming Chinese New Year celebrations, said Ismail Sabri, adding that the matter is being looked into by the Health Ministry and National Unity Ministry, along with the NSC.

“The SOP will be in accordance with the MCO, as the Chinese New Year celebration will be during the period. Once ready, we will make it known to the public, ” he said.

Chinese New Year falls on Feb 12. - Star

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