The Penang Security Special Commitee (JKKN) has allowed food and beverage outlets to provide dine-ins in stages.

Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow said the first phase would start on May 15 (Friday).

“The Penang JKKN only allows food outlets located in the hotel, supermarket and fast food franchise to provide dine-ins from May 15 onwards.

“The details pertaining to the standard operating procedure (SOP) will be announced tomorrow (May 13) by both city councils namely the Penang Island City Council (MBPP) and Seberang Perai City Council (MBSP).

“A comprehensive study for phase two, involving food outlets in other categories, will be done under the advice of the state Health Department. Those outlets are not allowed to provide dine-ins for now,” Chow told the public via Facebook Live on his Facebook page today.

Chow also said that the Penang government together with the Federal and state agencies would refine the SOP implementation process with regard to the Covid-19 screening test for construction site workers and the manufacturing sector.

He said he would provide more details soon.

“Meanwhile, the Penang government will follow the same guidelines and SOP as the Federal Government pertaining to congregational prayers in the mosque and surau. The announcement and SOP will be announced soon by the Federal Government.

“The same SOP will be applied to other religions, as well for any religious activity in their places of worship.

“Apart from that, the state government urges Penangites who live in flats to limit the number of guests to not more than seven during the upcoming Hari Raya Aidilfitri celebration.

“This is according to the advice from Health Ministry director-general Datuk Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah to curb the spread of Covid-19,” Chow added.

According to Chow, public places such as Penang City Park, Metropolitan Park, Penang Botanic Gardens on the Penang island; Vision Park, Mengkuang Dam, Kamloon Beach, Air Hitam Dalam Educational Park, Cerok Tokun Tropical Forest, Panchor Hill Tropical Forest and Bukit Juru Forest Reserve in Seberang Perai would remain close.

“Meanwhile, recreational activities are limited to neighbourhood parks and pocket parks in residential areas only,” he said.

Chow said although Penang is already classified as a ‘green state’ with no new reported cases of Covid-19 for the past three weeks, the state government has continuously carried out the Covid-19 screening test on targeted groups.

“These include high-risk groups such as the madrasah and tahfiz (religious) schools, foreigners, special care centres for senior citizens, caretakers and market workers with supervision in 35 markets across the state.

“Until today, all the test results were negative. We are grateful for that,” he said.

According to Chow, the state government had also announced the Penang Next Normal Strategies at the beginning of movement control order (MCO) Phase Three.

He said the Penang Next Normal Strategies has four main missions which are to contain the pandemic, allow institutions to adapt to the next normal, rescue people and the economy and empower the community.

“Thus, each department and state agency must plan their next action based on these strategies.

“I am confident that with the ‘Penang Next Normal Strategies’, our state will be able to quickly rise again from the aftermath of the Covid-19 outbreak.

“Our recovery strategies will work only if we cooperate and remain united. Let us care for one another and rebuild our state again,” he added.

At the end of his speech, Chow encouraged all Penangites to stay strong, be patient and continue to practise preventive measures to curb the spread of Covid-19 while adapting to the new norms.

Source: Buletin Mutiara