KUANTAN: After a week of uncertainty, businesses in green zones (areas free from Covid-19) in Pahang will be allowed to resume operations by enforcing strict health-related standard operating procedures (SOP).
Pahang state secretary Datuk Seri Dr Sallehuddin Ishak said starting today, patrons are allowed to dine-in at restaurants, rest and recreational areas (R&R) can resume operations and petrol stations can operate as stipulated under the licence approved by the Ministry of Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs.
"For restaurants with dine-in patrons, tables should be arranged at least two metres from one another while chairs should be at least a metre away.
"Muslim restaurants are only allowed to operate between noon and midnight while non-Muslim premises between 7am and 7pm. After the Ramadan month, all premises can only operate between 7am and 7pm. Currently, food courts and food trucks are only allowed to provide take-away," he said in a statement today.
Sallehuddin said the R&R areas along the Kuala Lumpur-Karak Expressway and the East Coast Highway Phase 1 and 2 (LPT1 & 2) will resume operations with a limit of one customer per table.
"The Surau is only open to those who bring their own sejadah (prayer mats) and telekung (female prayer attire), and the highway authorities have to station a guard to monitor. Hand sanitisers must be provided at all premises at the rest area including the Surau.
"The operating hours for petrol stations is as stipulated in their business licence. Each petrol pump has to be equipped with hand gloves or sanitisers, and the nozzle has to be disinfected every hour," he said.
Meanwhile, he said all factories will be allowed to operate at full capacity but their workers will have to be free from Covid-19 infection.
On wet markets, Sallehudin reminded customers to avoid touching the items and instead ask assistance from traders to pack the items which they plan to purchase.
He said self-service laundromat outlets can operate between 7am and 7pm but the owners have to use floor tape markings as guides for customers to practise social distancing and provide hand sanitisers.
"Put a person in charge throughout the operations as the washing and dryer machines have to be sanitised each time after use. Customers are not allowed to fold their clothes in the premises," he said.
Meanwhile, Sallehudin said shopping complexes can open between 7am and 7pm but cinemas, karaoke outlets, entertainment, gaming and bowling outlets and children's theme parks within the premises are not allowed to operate.
"Children below 12 years old are not allowed into the premises and the food court inside the premises can only allow take away meals. Parking capacity is limited to only 50 per cent at one time while only limited doors should be opened to patrons," he said, adding customers are not allowed to try out any clothing or shoes (while buying) or return them (in case it does not meet requirements).
He said golf courses can resume business but club facilities such as gymnasiums, swimming pools, surau and changing rooms will remain closed and no competitions are allowed.
Sallehudin said jogging is only allowed within housing settlements and not at jogging tracks or recreational areas and it should be done individually and not it groups.
"Children below 10 years old cannot participate and runners have to maintain at least a 10m distance from each other. Cycling is allowed but not more than five cyclists at a time," he said.
He said the state government along with the state Security Working Committee in a meeting today agreed to allow business operators in the green zones to resume operations if they adhere to strict requirements.
"All their workers will have to undergo Covid-19 screening and employers must bear the cost of the test. Workers will have to undergo daily body temperature checks and record the readings. Premises with more than 10 workers will be required to setup an Emergency Response Team and the premises will have to be sanitised daily.
"Patrons entering the business premises will have their body temperatures taken and provide their full details such as their name, phone numbers and full addresses," he said.