Conditional MCO: Dine-in at restaurants allowed but with conditions, says PM

PETALING JAYA: Table distancing, social distancing, registration of customer contacts and face masks for workers will be the new norms for dine-ins under the conditional movement control order (MCO).

Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin said all food and beverage outlets can now open for dine-ins provided they strictly follow conditions set by the authorities under the conditional MCO from May 4.

He, however, said that it is better not to dine-in.

In a Labour Day speech on Friday (May 1), Muhyiddin said there must be scanning of body temperature, tables must be distanced, outlets must register contact details of customers and restaurants must decide how to socially distance customers while dining in.

Muhyiddin said that food and beverage outlets can start to clean up their premises from Friday onwards to prepare to allow dining in on May 4.

"I want to give a simple example. From May 4, Pak Salleh can reopen his restaurant.

"In the next two days, he can start cleaning his restaurant, wash his cutlery and cooking pots and other cooking utensils, arrange the tables and chairs and buy his raw ingredients.

"Make sure the tables are set two metres apart. It is important for a space wide enough to allow the customers and workers to move and there is safe space to allow customers to eat safely.

"To ensure social distancing while dining, Pak Salleh can put notices on each table whether it is for one, two or three persons, depending on the size of the table. Pak Salleh decides," said Muhyiddin.

There must also be social distancing at payment counters, as well as hand sanitisers and table disinfectants.

"On the day the restaurant is opened, check the temperature of the customers before they are allowed to enter.

"Take down the name and phone number of the customers and record the time and date of their visit to the restaurant. This is important to allow tracing if there is a Covid-19 positive case involving customers.

"If you are still feeling cautious, do not dine-in. This is perhaps better," said Muhyiddin.