‘Pubs can reopen with strict SOP’

PETALING JAYA: Malaysia’s rules on opening up businesses should apply to all including those considered high-risk such as nightclubs and pubs, albeit with strict guidelines, say health experts.

Universiti Malaya epidemiologist and public health expert Prof Dr Sanjay Rampal said normalcy was gradually returning, so there was even less of a reason to restrict activities including those of nightclubs and pubs.

The country, he said, could return to normalcy when there was a sustainable health surveillance system.

Thus, he said the risk assessment of activities should be based on evidence rather than a moral perspective.

Last week, Health Minister Khairy Jamaluddin said that nightclubs were still considered high-risk for Covid-19 transmission and thus would be the only type of premises that remain on the “negative list” after April 1 when Malaysia begins its transition to the endemic stage.Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia health economics, hospital and health management’s Prof Dr Sharifa Ezat Wan Puteh said the risk factors of a nightclub or pub were almost the same as other premises such as restaurants.

However, she was also of the view that nightclubs or pubs would have higher physical contact risks.

Should the decision to reopen nightclubs be considered, strict guidelines must be put in place, she said.

“Since the government is confident about opening up most social and economic sectors by April 1, it does not make sense to close certain establishments while others are allowed to reopen after midnight such as food outlets.

“You may as well open up (all sectors) to everyone,” she added.

Dr Sharifa Ezat said the government should prepare specific guidelines for such establishments to operate.

“Although I do not condone the activity, if the government wants to reopen most socio-economic sectors, it should apply to all – but with strict standard operating procedure such as maintaining the 50% capacity, among others,” she added.

On March 12, The Star quoted entertainment industry players as saying that the government should allow nightclubs to reopen, saying the livelihood of workers was at stake.

They agreed to operate with strict SOP in place such as self-screening tests for visitors, maintaining physical distancing, limiting the capacity and closing dance floors.

Dr Sharifa Ezat also said that while she welcomed the efforts of the government to transition to the endemic stage, she felt that April 1 would be too early.

“The rate of adults getting their booster jabs is just approaching 70%. And the vaccination coverage for children aged five to 11 is (still) low, there may still be exposure to the children,” she added.

According to the Health Ministry’s CovidNow portal, only 64.9% of the adult population in the country has received their booster shots and only about 32% of children aged five to 11 have had their first vaccination dose.

Dr Sharifa Ezat said the transition to the endemic phase would see an increase in cases, especially among children, as more sectors would be opened.

“We should wait until the end of April when most children would have received their vaccination,” she said.