KUALA LUMPUR: No barber services, hair salons, optical shops and Ramadan bazaars, even in Covid-19 green zones, are allowed to operate throughout Phase 3 of the Movement Control Order (MCO).
Senior Minister (Security Cluster) Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yakoob said the blanket ban was imposed after further deliberation and taking into consideration feedback from various quarters including health experts and non-governmental organisations.
The move, he said, was aimed at breaking the chain of Covid-19 infection and prevent mass movement that would create new clusters.
“Hence, Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin said that barbers, hair salons and optical shops would not be allowed to operate throughout MCO.
“Also, the prime minister has decided that there will be no Ramadan bazaars,” he said in a live telecast today.
He also said university students were not allowed to leave their campuses after discussions with relevant agencies including the police.
“Their welfare (would be protected) and meals would be borne by the government.”
This was following calls made by some parties, including former Youth and Sports minister Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman who urged the government to allow students in campuses to return to their hometown after having to stay put for almost a month.
Ismail Sabri had previously said that only barbers in green zones, districts with zero reported Covid-19 cases, were allowed to open.
Barber service was among those listed in several sectors that have been given the green light to resume operations in stages, subject to authorities’ approval, during Phase 3 of the MCO which ends on April 28.
Other services are launderettes (not self-service laundromats), hardware stores, electrical and electronics stores..