SIBU: The practice of manual registration when entering any premises must be maintained, especially for senior citizens.
Sibu Coffee Shop and Restaurant Owners Association chairman Tong Ing Kok said although he understood the rationale for abolishing the standard operating procedures (SOPs), the decision should not be apply to all ages.
“The government should consider senior citizens. They have to rely on manual registration as most of them do not have smart phones.
“May of those with mobile phones also do not know how to use them to scan MySejahtera QR code,” he said when contacted today.
Tong said with the decision to abolish manual registration, senior citizens could not enter any premises now unless their children did it for them using their phones.
He added that scanning body temperature was no longer mandatory but optional.
This, he pointed out, would make it very difficult for his association to know or track the health status of customers entering premises.
“I cannot say whether abolishing these SOPs will have good or bad impact on everyone.
“The question is how are we going to know customers’ health status if their temperatures are not taken?,” he asked.
The surge in COVID-19 Omicron variant would affect the food business once again.
“People are again afraid to eat out.
“For those who prefer to eat out, I would like to advise them to continue adhering to the SOPs.
“Continue to wear face masks and practise social distancing in the food and beverage premises,” he reminded.
Today, the manual registration of customers stopped, as announced by the government.
Registration through the MySejahtera application, and scanning of QR code are still mandatory.