SIBU: The Sibu Coffee Shops and Restaurants Owners Association has disagreed with the opinion of Sibu Municipal Council (SMC) chairman Clarence Ting to re-implement the dine-in ban in this division following the increase in Covid-19 positive cases.
When contacted today (Aug 26), the association’s chairman Tong Ing Kok has suggested to SMC to impose penalties and fines only on coffee shops or restaurants that were found to have failed to comply with the standard operating procedures (SOPs).
“It would be unfair to those (coffee shops and restaurants) who comply with the SOPs if these rules are re-implemented.
“Punishment should be imposed on those who break the rules like some eatery operators who do not wear face masks,” he said.
In this regard, Tong also said SMC should allow coffee shop and restaurant operators to decide for themselves whether dine-in is allowed or otherwise.
Although he agreed that dine-in poses a risk of Covid-19 infection, there are also records showing that this deadly virus tends to be transmitted in other places as well and not just at food premises.
Earlier, Ting said the dine-in ban at all food premises here might be considered for temporary re-enforcement following the sharp increase in positive cases over the past two days.
The division recorded a total of 125 positive cases on Wednesday and out of the total, areas under the SMC administration recorded 77 cases followed by 45 cases in the Sibu Rural District Council (SRDC) administrative area and three Import C cases.
Today, Sibu recorded 161 positive cases — SMC administrative area (66), SRDC (83), Sibu Jaya (four) and Import C (eight).
