THE government is working to streamline the existing standard operating procedure (SOP) related to Covid-19 so that it is better understood by the people, industry players and enforcement agencies.

Senior Defence Minister Hishammuddin Tun Hussein said currently, there are 181 SOP covering all four phases of the National Recovery Plan and the government plans to reduce them to only 10.

“The move to streamline the SOP which we have been using for more than a year will definitely take some time. However, the government is committed to resolving the matter before we transition to the endemic phase,” he said in a news conference on the outcome of the Covid-19 ministerial quartet meeting in Parliament today.

Present were Health Minister Khairy Jamaluddin, Communications and Multimedia Minister Annuar Musa, Finance Minister Tengku Zafrul Tengku Abdul Aziz and director-general of health Noor Hisham Abdullah.

On the streamlining of existing SOP, Hishammuddin said the government would not only take into account scientific data, especially from the health ministry but also feedback and views from experts and industries. 

“We will probably take between two and three weeks to complete the streamlining process,” he added.

Meanwhile, Hishammuddin said it has also been agreed upon that there will be more relaxation of SOP especially for those in the low-risk category.

He said the government is taking into account the pressure and fatigue experienced by the people after more than a year living in an epidemic situation that restricted activities and movement.

“We cannot allow this situation to continue because it could have a more serious impact, especially on mental health.

“The prime minister will announce the additional relaxations for the social and economic sectors in the near future,” he said. – Bernama, September 14, 2021.