Health DG: More sectors will be allowed to open throughout RMCO

KUALA LUMPUR (June 11): More economic sectors will be allowed to open throughout the Recovery Movement Control Order (RMCO) period, as long as the number of daily Covid-19 cases are under control, according to Health Ministry director-general (DG) Datuk Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah (pictured).

During this recovery period, which started yesterday (June 10) and is scheduled to end on Aug 31, Noor Hisham said the ministry is encouraging all sectors to open in stages.

"What is certain is that when we reach the end of RMCO, we should have almost all of the economic sectors opened. But we need to make sure the number of daily cases does not increase," he said during the ministry's daily Covid-19 press briefing today.

"So if we can keep [daily new cases] at double digit or single digit, and further reduce it, then we can open more [sectors]. We have to balance those two aspects," Noor Hisham added.

He said for instance, the ministry is currently working on the standard operating procedures (SOPs) for reflexology and massage activities at health and beauty establishments, which is currently still prohibited under the RMCO.

"We are still streamlining the SOP and God willing, we hope to present it to the NSC (National Security Council) soon for their approval. Maybe by next week, [it will be released]," he said.

Among the other activities that are still prohibited under the RMCO are: 

● Organising sports events and tournaments

● Contact sports

● Water theme parks and water park activities

● Swimming pool activities (other than those in a private residence and in a swimming pool for private use in accommodation premises under the Tourism Industry Act 1992, except for the training of national athletes participating in the Tokyo Olympic Games 2020

● Outbound tour activities by a citizen and inbound tour activities involving foreign tourists entering Malaysia

● Activities in karaoke centres, children playgrounds in shopping malls and family entertainment centres

● Activities in pubs and nightclubs, except restaurant businesses in pubs and nightclubs

● Fitting of clothes, using fitting rooms in clothing stores, trying on fashion accessories in stores and providing cosmetic testers in stores

● Cruise ship activities

● Any activity with many people in attendance at a place, making it difficult to carry out social distancing and to comply with the directions of the Health DG

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