THE Health Ministry needs to know the number of foreigners working as hairdressers and barbers before it decides whether to allow the industry to resume operations.

Director-General Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah told a daily press conference on Covid-19 that the ministry has received requests from industry players for permission to reopen, and is looking at the existing standard operating procedures.

“We have received a letter from the association. We are scrutinising the existing SOPs.

“This is an industry that requires close contact with customers, so we need to see how we can prevent the spread of Covid-19.

“What we need is data. We need to know how many foreigners are working as barbers (and hairdressers). This is the data we need before we can propose the reopening of hair salons (and barbershops).”

Senior Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob earlier said no decision has been made to allow barbers and hairdressers to resume operations.

He said the Health Ministry is working on an SOP for these businesses. – May 19, 2020.