KUCHING, Aug 10: The Ministry of Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs (KPDNHEP) has reminded all consumers and the business community to strictly comply with standard operating procedures (SOP) despite relaxed Covid-19 regulations for fully vaccinated people in order to ensure public health and well-being as well as business continuity.
Its minister Dato Sri Alexander Nanta Linggi highlighted this when welcoming Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin’s recent announcement on the easing of restrictions for the fully vaccinated in eight states from today onwards.
The states involved are those in Phase 2 of the National Recovery Plan (NRP) namely Penang, Perak, Pahang, Terengganu, Kelantan and Sabah, while in Phase 3 are Sarawak, Perlis and Labuan.
“The flexibility given to fully vaccinated people will certainly be able to boost the domestic economy with the reopening of more economic and social sectors in stages soon.
“Allowing dining-in provides relief among consumers and operators of eateries, restaurants and cafes in Phase 2 and 3 in which KPDNHEP will ensure SOPs are fully complied with by customers and premises,” he said in a statement today.
Nanta noted that the relaxed rules came given that a total of 15.35 million or 65.6 per cent of the eligible adult population have received their first Covid-19 vaccine dose and 8.25 million or 35.3 per cent have been fully vaccinated with two doses, while the daily vaccination rate has reached 500,000 doses.
With that, the ministry is confident that the country is on the right track to exit from the pandemic in a safe and orderly manner.
“The ministry has continuously emphasised to the supply and retail industries the importance for all industry players to be prepared in responding to the government’s call for the reopening of all economic sectors in stages and phases provided that all employees have been fully vaccinated and premises are equipped to fully comply with SOP at all times.
“The ministry has also collaborated with the Covid-19 Task Force (CITF) to implement a vaccination programme for the retail industry (RiVAC) in Klang Valley since July 26 and up to date, a total of 29,105 industry workers have been vaccinated,” he said.
The RiVAC, he added, will also be extended to states like Penang and Johor soon based on the registrations received. — DayakDaily
