RESTAURANTS can begin making dine-in preparations from May 4, when other sectors of the economy are also allowed to open under strict health standard operating procedures (SOPs) to prevent the spread of Covid-19.

Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin said eateries must require workers and customers to observe physical distancing on their premises by arranging tables and chairs at least 2m apart.

“There must also be signs on tables that it is only for one or two people to dine at, depending on the size of the table.

“Also place marks on the floor at the payment counter, at least 1m apart, to ensure that customers observe social distancing while they wait to pay,” he said in a special Labour Day address on the movement control order (MCO) today.

The MCO is still in force until May 12 but Muhyiddin said “almost all” sectors of the economy and activities, except those that involve mass gatherings and close body contact, can start re-opening from May 4 provided they adhere to health SOPs.

For restaurants and eateries, he said all workers must wear a face mask at all times, and must undergo daily temperature checks

Contact details of customers should also be recorded, in the event a Covid-19 infection is detected, so that other patrons can be traced for screening.

“When all these measures are in place, customers will feel safer to dine-in,” Muhyiddin said.

The MCO has been in place for 45 days as of today, which has had an enormous financial impact on the nation’s food and beverage industry. – May 1, 2020.