MoH defers permission for social and education sector to operate - Dr Noor Hisham

Permission for the social and education sectors to operate has been postponed to enable the Ministry of Health (MoH) to closely monitor the development of COVID-19 infections.

Health director-general Datuk Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah said the MoH is currently proposing the government to allow the economic sector to operate in advance of other sectors during the implementation of the Movement Control Order (MCO).

"The social and education sectors will open soon (but) let's allow the economic sector to start first.

"We will monitor this (economic) sector for at least two to four weeks before proposing that the social and education sectors be reopened," he told a press conference here on Wednesday.

Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Mohd Yassin had earlier announced that a special Cabinet Committee was set up to review the list of selected economic sectors to be opened in stages as the MCO came into force.

Asked about the reopening of nurseries to be discussed at the National Security Council (MKN) meeting, Dr Noor Hisham said it was dependent on the owner's compliance with the MOH guidelines.

"Whether it's for shops, restaurants or any other institution, what matters is that we adhere to the MOH guidelines

"The guidelines are in place. If they can comply with the guidelines, there is no problem. However, we need to make sure," he said.