SIBU, Jan 14: A number of eatery outlets are not opened today while those in operation are experiencing less than 50 per cent customers as compared to a week ago.
Townfolks are scared to dine out now due to the sudden outbreak of Covid-1 from the Pasai Cluster. From one super spreader in a 32-year old woman who came back from Johor on Dec 29 for her
father’s funeral ceremony, the cluster had contributed 284 cases as at Jan 13.
Elsewhere supermarkets and town areas are also seen with fewer people.
Sibu Coffeeshop and Restaurant Owners Association chairman Tong Ing Kok feared that as the number of positive cases continues to increase, it would severely impact food outlet business.
“Yesterday most coffee shops experienced a drop of 50% less in patrons as compared to a week ago. If more people are found positive, our business will be badly affected,” he said.
Tong said people do not want to take the risk of dining-out now and prefer to eat at home while office workers, would bring food with them.
“If not for this mass infection from this cluster, it will not create panic among the public. People now prefer not to go out unnecessarily for fear of being infected,”he said.
For those who are eating-out, he advised them to strictly follow the SOP guidelines.
“Don’t forget to scan the MySejahtera code. Also, put on a face mask and wash your hands,” he advised.
Meanwhile, there is a big crowd of people at the foyer of Sibu Indoor Stadium for screening today despite the plea by Sibu Disaster Management Committee that those who are not in contact with the positive cases to delay their screening.
The committee yesterday urged the public to give priority to those who are in contact with the positive cases.
A clerk of a company who only gave her name as Isabella,42, when met at the long queue said her boss had instructed her to go for screening as the company’s driver is one of those infected from the Pasai Cluster.
“As a precaution, we have been told to go for screening,” said Isabella who waited for close to two hours for her turn. -DayakDaily
