SIBU: All small rooms or ‘pantries’ in government departments and agencies here are ordered to close following the enforcement of stricter standard operating procedures (SOPs) under the conditional movement control order (CMCO) in the district.
The Coordinator of Sibu Divisional Disaster Management Committee Dr Annuar Rapaee said this at a press conference today (Apr 22).
The Assistant Minister of Public Health said a circular letter on the matter would be issued to all the government departments and agencies in the district.
“Acting Sibu Division Resident Wong Hee Sieng will distribute this circular letter immediately,” he said.
Dr. Annuar explained that the pantries must be closed because Covid-19 infection could occur in such limited space.
“‘Pantries are one of the small spaces where people do not normally wear face masks. We still encourage our employees not to eat in pantries” said the Assistant Minister of Education, Science, and Technological Research.
He urged employers to mandate all service providers, such as security guards, drivers, and cleaners, to take the Covid-19 swab.
He explained that drivers were in a high-risk group as they moved frequently and had the potential to form new clusters if they became infected.
Dr Annuar also urged employers to remind their employees to strictly follow SOPs to prevent the emergence of new clusters.
