PUTRAJAYA: A six-point standard operating procedure (SOP) for all retailers has been issued by the National Security Council (NSC) for them to operate during the upcoming Hari Raya Aidilfitri celebration.
Health director-general Datuk Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah said the SOP applies to all shopping complexes, supermarkets and hypermarkets, departmental stores, clothing shops, convenience shops, mini marts as well as other retail businesses.
The SOP is to ensure social distancing at all times; a limit on the number of customers at a premises at any one time depending on the size of the retail area to deter overcrowding; that all staff members, suppliers and customers have their body temperatures checked before entering a premises; the provision of hand sanitisers at entry points; that staff members wear face masks; and that disinfection and cleaning of premises are conducted throughout operating hours.
Dr Noor Hisham urged the public, which has begun making preparations to buy food, clothing, house decorations and daily necessities ahead of the festivities, to strictly follow the SOP.
He said surveillance shows that a large number of shoppers and businesses are toeing the line, but there are still those who take the SOP lightly.
"There are some who openly breach the SOP at areas such as shopping centres and grocery shops. Many netizens have posted images and videos of people not adhering to the SOP and this is worrying.
"The ministry calls on the people to avoid shopping at crowded and cramped places where it is hard to practice social distancing. Parents as well as guardians of children and babies should refrain from taking them to public places to protect them from the Covid-19 infection.
"Although the number of Covid-19 reported cases is declining, the danger is the infection is still present in the community. We must protect ourselves, our family and the community from the virus," he said.
Dr Noor Hisham said police will adopt the "advise and warn approach" for parents who defy instructions by bringing their children to shopping malls.
On a separate matter, Dr Noor Hisham said the ministry is in the midst of studying the SOP proposed by the barber association which has voiced its intention to operate during the Conditional Movement Control Order (CMCO).
He said it is crucial that the SOP is examined in detail, as the business involves close contact between the barbers and their customers.
"We want to ensure that we are able to avoid any sort of Covid-19 infection. What we need now is the data on the number of foreign barbers before we can propose if they can start to operate or otherwise," said Dr Noor Hisham.