COVID: Govt working to streamline, reduce SOP to only 10 - Hishammuddin

KUALA LUMPUR: The government is working to streamline the existing standard operating procedures (SOPs) related to COVID-19 so that it is better understood by the people, industry players and enforcement agencies.

Senior Defence Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Tun Hussein said currently, there were 181 SOPs covering all four phases of the National Recovery Plan (PPN) and the government plans to reduce them to only 10.

"The move to streamline the SOPs which we have been using for more than a year will definitely take some time, however, the government is committed to resolving the matter before we transition to the endemic phase," he said in a news conference on the outcome of the COVID-19 Ministerial Quartet Meeting in Parliament today.

Also present were Health Minister Khairy Jamaluddin, Communications and Multimedia Minister Tan Sri Annuar Musa, Finance Minister Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Tengku Abdul Aziz and Health director-general Tan Sri Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah.

In order to determine how the existing SOPs could be streamlined, Hishammuddin said the government would not only take into account scientific data, especially from the Health Ministry (MOH), but also the feedback and views from experts and industries.

"The development on this matter will be informed from time to time. We will probably take between two and three weeks to complete it," he added.

In the meantime, Hishammuddin said the Special Committee on Pandemic Management meeting has agreed to provide more relaxation of SOPs especially those in the low-risk category.

He said the government took into account the pressure and fatigue experienced by the people after more than a year living in a pandemic situation that restricted activities and movement.

"We cannot allow this situation to continue because it could lead to a more serious impact, especially on mental health.

"The Prime Minister will announce the additional relaxation for the social and economic sectors in the near future," he said.

-- BERNAMA