Safer to stick to takeaway for now

THE government’s decision to allow dine-in for those who are fully vaccinated against Covid-19 in states and federal territories that have transitioned into at least Phase 2 of the National Recovery Plan (NRP) is good news for eatery owners and operators.

The government has also extended the operating hours for eateries in areas that are under the first phase of the NRP from 6am until 10pm.

These moves are certainly good for the economy. However, with the number of new infections and fatality rate still increasing daily, and the fact that fully vaccinated people can still be infected, people must think carefully before they decide to have their meals in restaurants.

According to the United States’ Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), as of Aug 2, 2021, more than 164 million people in the US have been fully vaccinated.

During the same time, the CDC received reports from 49 US states and territories of 7,525 patients with Covid-19 breakthrough infection (defined as the detection of SARS-CoV-2 RNA or antigen in a respiratory specimen collected from a person 14 days or more after completing the recommended doses of a Covid-19 vaccine authorised by the US Food and Drug Administration) who were hospitalised or died.

Deputy Health director-general (Research and Technical Support) Datuk Dr Hishamshah Mohd Ibrahim said a total of 4,761 out of 246,242 Health Ministry employees who were fully vaccinated have been infected with the virus.

However, it is important to note that majority of fully-vaccinated frontliners at health facilities showed no symptoms (Category One) or mild symptoms (Category Two) when they were infected.

Vaccine breakthrough infections in Malaysia nearly tripled in the past week to some 21,000 total cases, or 15.6% of 132,748 Covid-19 cases reported between July 26 and Aug 2.

As such, it would be better to hold off dining in restaurants for the time being. You can take the food and eat it in your car if you have nowhere else to have it. Yes, it is not comfortable to eat in a car but it can be done for our safety.

If you really need to dine in, then follow the restaurant’s standard operating procedures to the letter.

Think about the risk of exposing yourself to infection before you decide to dine in at any food outlets/restaurants. If you get infected with Covid-19 and die, it will be an inconsolable loss to your family.

DR MD ZAHIDUL ISLAM

Assistant professor

Ahmad Ibrahim Kulliyyah of Laws

International Islamic University Malaysia