Almost all economic sectors and business activities will be allowed to resume business from the 4th of May onwards, announced Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin earlier today. This is subject to conditions and standard operating procedure.
“There will be industries and businesses that will not be allowed to operate. These are businesses that involves the presence of a lot of people where body contact and social distancing will be difficult to exercise,” he said.
This decision is made following advice from the Health Ministry and after lengthy discussions during the Economic Action Council, National Security Council and Cabinet Meeting.
“Activities that involve mass gathering and exposing the public to the risk of being infected with Covid-19 will still not be allowed,” he said. “We will also enforce the enhanced MCO in areas where the number of Covid-19 positive cases are high,”
Here are the list of businesses that are NOT allowed to operate during the Conditional MCO (CMCO)
Source: SOP Pembukaan Ekonomi 1 Mei 2020
Dine in
Table distancing, social distancing, registration of customer contacts and face masks for workers will be the new norms for dine-ins from the 4th of May.
Muhyiddin said all food and beverage outlets can now open for dine-ins provided they strictly follow conditions set by the authorities under the conditional MCO from May 4. He was quick to advise the people to avoid dining in, if possible.
He went on to say that there must be scanning of body temperature, tables must be distanced, outlets must register contact details of customers and restaurants must decide how to socially distance customers while dining in.
Food and beverage outlets can start to clean up their premises from Friday onwards to prepare to allow dining in on May 4. Tables must be set two metres apart. “It is important for a space wide enough to allow the customers and workers to move and there is safe space to allow customers to eat safely,” he continued.
There must also be social distancing at payment counters, as well as hand sanitisers and table disinfectants.
“If you are still feeling cautious, do not dine-in. This is perhaps better,”
“Take down the name and phone number of the customers and record the time and date of their visit to the restaurant. This is important to allow tracing if there is a Covid-19 positive case involving customers,” he warned. “If you are still feeling cautious, do not dine-in. This is perhaps better,”
Staggered working hours
Heads of government departments have been urged to implement staggered working hours and alternate days of work at the office and from home. The government will encourage civil servants to work from home except for work that requires being at the office. Meetings should be held online.
The premier said that alternate work days at the office and from home would help civil servants with childcare problems especially with concerns over sending children to childcare centres, which will also be allowed to resume operations from Monday.
Muhyiddin also urged the private sector to implement similar arrangements for their staff. “At the workplace, employers must screen the temperature of workers daily. If the temperature is high, then advise the worker to go home or quickly to a clinic,”
Tables, chairs and equipment at the office need to be sanitised frequently, he said.
Public transportation companies need to ensure they take measures to prevent overcrowding at bus stations, Light Rail Transit (LRT) stations and Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) stations among others.
Not all workers need to come to work at the same time.
“To help prevent overcrowding at public transport stations and in public transportations, I propose that all employers implement staggered working hours. Not all workers need to come to work at the same time. Slowly, we can prevent everyone from rushing to the office at the same time,”
“I am worried too,”
The Prime Minister is aware that after two months of undergoing MCO, many are eager to go back to work and for traders to restart their business as livelihood is affected.
“At the same time, many are also concerned that if the order is lifted, there is a possibility of a new outbreak. I know you are worried. I am too. We must find a way to balance the need for the economy to recover and the importance to contain Covid-19,” he said.
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