AT long last, Senior Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob announced that meetings, seminars, courses and training can be conducted, three months after the movement-control order came into force on March 18.

However, such gatherings must adhere to new standard operating procedures, including no buffet meals for participants. However, it would be time-consuming if a group of 20 to 50 had to wait for ala carte meals to be served.

Buffets normally consist of a large variety of ready-to-eat items spread over counters for diners to serve themselves. They are popular because many people can have their meals in a short time, or eat to their heart’s content.

There is no real need to ban buffet meals altogether. While previous arrangements ought to be discontinued, the practice of scooping food onto diners’ plates can be modified to ensure no contamination.

It would be better to allow diners the freedom to choose what they want to eat from the buffet line. But unlike before, all dishes must be kept in transparent display cases that are accessible only by staff manning the counters.

The aim of barring buffets is to prevent diners from handling serving utensils, such as tongs and ladles, and coming too close to food items on open display, as people may unintentionally cough, sneeze or burp, causing droplets to scatter on the food, utensils and other surfaces. If Covid-19 is present in these droplets, other customers could become infected.

The virus floating in the air could also be breathed in when masks are removed while people eat. During a seminar, a round table could seat six or even eight participants during a meal, but now, it’s better to limit the number to four.

A standard-sized seminar table usually sees three participants seated closely together, but that should be cut to just two.

After a long hiatus, many hotels are ready for business. Apart from having guest rooms suitably prepared, function rooms, too, must be thoroughly disinfected, with all furniture and equipment sanitised.

It is up to organisations in both the public and private sectors to start organising meetings, seminars, courses and training. Reviving our economy requires the exchange of ideas leading to decision-making for plans to be rolled out. – June 19, 2020.

* Y.S. Chan reads The Malaysian Insight.

* This is the opinion of the writer or publication and does not necessarily represent the views of The Malaysian Insight. Article may be edited for brevity and clarity.