RMCO: Observe SOP, prevent new clusters

Today is the last day for the preparations for the re-opening of many sectors which have been allowed to resume operations after three months of closure due to the Movement Control Order (MCO).

Since the Recovery MCO (RMCO) was enforced on June 10, the social sector has been re-opened in stages, with more relaxed conditions and freedom given to the people to live with new normal practices and self-control to curb the spread of COVID-19.

Besides the re-opening of government and private pre-schools and kindergartens from tomorrow (July 1), the rules for other places such as theme parks have also been relaxed, while body temperature screenings at shopping centres need only be conducted once.

Yesterday, Senior Minister (Security Cluster) Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob said 54 theme parks including water theme parks throughout the country, involving more than 10,000 employees, will resume operations.

Before this, the government had allowed social events like wedding receptions, engagement ceremonies, religious events, birthday and anniversary celebrations to be held, beginning the same date.

Spa, wellness and foot massage centres, cinemas, theatres, 'live' event indoor venues and swimming pool activities have also been allowed to operate from July 1.

Both Ismail Sabri and Health Director-General Datuk Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah have repeatedly reminded all parties to observe the standard operating procedure (SOP) set by the National Security Council and the Health Ministry, including ensuring social distancing at all times and limiting the number of visitors to the capacity and size of the area.

In the case of social events such as weddings and marriage solemnisation ceremonies, the permitted number of guests is not more than 250 at any one time, whether it is held in the mosque, hall, house or other locations.

For surely we do not want to create a wedding reception cluster such as the one in Bandar Baru Bangi before this, or a theme park cluster, or any other cluster, so it is crucial that we practise self-discipline as we enjoy ourselves.

It must be remembered that the war against COVID-19 is not yet over, even though the signs are good that the country is on the right track, heading towards zero cases, and becoming free of the COVID-19 threat, based on yesterday's number of infected cases which is now back to single digit.

Yesterday, three new cases were reported, two of which were local infections, while the third is an imported case, bringing the cumulative number to 8,637 with 182 active cases.

There has been no increase in the number of COVID-19-related deaths, so the total number of COVID-19 deaths in Malaysia remains at 121, which is 1.40 per cent of the total number of cases.

So do not do anything that will jeopardise the situation or create a new cluster.

-- BERNAMA