THE good news for those in Penang - a state which is in Phase 2 of the National Recovery Plan (NRP) - who are fully-vaccinated against Covid-19, is the green light given today by the government, to indulge in their favourite pastime of dining out, come Aug 10.
Who on this island state has not missed dining-in at their favourite hawker joint, upscale restaurant or hotel buffets?
While some may be busy gathering their fully-vaccinated family and friends for eat-outs and booking tables at eateries, others are not rushing out just yet to dine-in and be merry.
Also not in a hurry to reopen their eating joints to the vaccinated public, are the restauranters themselves.
This is because they are not in a position to assure their patrons they can dine with peace of mind, because many of their staff are yet to be vaccinated.
Patrons too, are willing to wait it out till Covid-19 cases in the state decline further before they venture out for meals.
It has been heartening to note that the manufacturing industry has picked up speed in getting their employees vaccinated in recent times.
The same can be said for some hotels who have been fortunate enough to arrange for their staff to be vaccinated, and selected hawkers and market operators in the state.
Where does this leave operators of standalone restaurants, cafès and small businesses whose staff are still patiently waiting to be called for their vaccinations?
Most patrons would prefer to support eateries knowing that those serving them have been fully-vaccinated. The same goes with other service industries like retail and government counters which have been allowed to reopen.
Penang's economy which has been supported by the manufacturing, tourism and services sectors has taken a beating like elsewhere, due to the pandemic.
In order to help the state get back on its feet, it is imperative that our economic front-liners and food operators and their workers are inoculated without further delay.
It would be a crying shame if eateries are allowed to stay open till 10pm daily with no steady flow of patrons, because peace of mind is lacking among diners, and the safety of those supporting the food industry are not prioritised.
As the Delta variant of Covid-19 continues to spread, the government's move to mandate vaccinations for eating out is a welcome one for the NRP Phase 2 states.
The same goes for inter-district tourism where hotels can now reopen their doors for staycations by locals.
Owing to the nature of the food and hospitality businesses which requires operators to serve their customers, how do these operators now navigate their way around this new mandate by not placing their un-vaccinated staff at risk?
How do they respond to customers who demand proof of vaccination from the staff serving them?
A swift solution and equally prompt answers are needed before Aug 10.