Safety first: Children excitedly interacting with the exhibits at the National Science Centre in Kuala Lumpur while also donning face masks. — Bernama
PETALING JAYA: Retailers and eateries have advised their staffers to mask up amid the rising Covid-19 cases and they are calling on patrons to do so as well.
With more cases expected in the coming weeks in anticipation of the year-end holiday and festive season, they said everyone should take precautions with their personal hygiene to protect themselves and others.
Malaysia Retailers Association vice-president Datuk Ameer Ali Mydin said Malaysians should have known better because we have learned from the dark days of the movement control order (MCO).
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“All retailers and customers should take a small step together, like masking up when outside to curb the spread of Covid-19 so that we don’t have to go through the big step of movement restrictions again,” he said in an interview.
Ameer Ali, who is also Mydin managing director, said his company’s management has issued a notice to all branches on a “to-do” list following the Health Minister’s press conference about the latest Covid-19 situation in the country on Monday.
“We started implementing cleaning protocols internally, such as sanitising public areas like the washrooms and high contact points and objects like trollies and elevators.
“We informed the janitors about this latest requirement yesterday (Monday).
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“We also encourage all staffers, especially frontliners, to wear a mask,” he said.
Ameer Ali said the precautionary measures were done according to the Health Ministry’s directive.
“I hope other retailers will follow it too,” he said.
On Monday, Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad said in a Covid-19 situation update press conference that cases went up by 62% compared with the previous week, and 97% of the cases were mild.
He said there would be no return of the MCO and no need for MySejahtera check-ins just yet.
However, the ministry called on all to take preventive measures as cases are expected to rise in the coming weeks, in line with global trends; and masking up in enclosed areas and practising personal hygiene is highly encouraged.
Restaurant and Bistro Owners Association vice-president Jeremy Lim expressed concerns as the rather muted year-end season is now compounded by the rising Covid-19 infections.
“The majority of food and beverage operators have not seen any uptick in footfall or sales despite offering a variety of promotions.
“We noticed the steady decline since the first quarter (of) this year, and it has been more severe in recent months,” he said.
Lim said many operators are still practising the sanitisation, hygiene, temperature testing and mask mandates after the reopening of all sectors.
“We have been sanitising our premises and testing our employees, and many outlets still maintain a mask mandate with the front of house and kitchen staffers.
“We kept this practice because our industry is a ‘high touch point and high interaction’ sector. It’s safer for our customers and employees.”
Calling for all to mask up, Lim said he hoped additional measures could be avoided.
“In the unlikely situation if additional controls are needed, I urge the stakeholders in Putrajaya to consult with industries to minimise the impact on business and livelihoods,” he said.
Malaysian Muslim Restaurant Owners Association (Presma) president Datuk Jawahar Ali Taib Khan said he had advised members to at least make it mandatory for staffers to wear a mask.
He said workers who tested positive would go on self-quarantine, where special meals would be prepared for them from the kitchen.
“Some members have also started to reintroduce homemade herbal concoctions for their staff members.”
Despite the impending holiday season, he urged people to take extra precautions and if possible, postpone their holidays.
