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Barbershops, car wash services and night markets are allowed to operate from today onwards (4 Feb) , announced Senior Minister (Defence) Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob.

However, the reopening is subject to stricter Standard Operating Procedures (SOP).

In his daily Movement Control Order (MCO) briefing, Ismail Sabri outlined that the operating hours of these businesses are also limited as below:

  • Night market – 4pm -10pm
  • Barbershop/ Hair Salon (haircut only) – until 10pm
  • Car wash services – until 10pm
Credit: National Security Council

Stricter SOPs

The Defence Minister stressed that only haircut services at barbershops and hair salons are allowed, with other services such as facials still strictly prohibited.

Salon and barber shop workers must also sanitise their equipment after tending to each customer.

Credit: TRP

In a special announcement today (4 Feb) Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin also said that the government will focus on factories, construction sites and workplaces as they contribute the highest number of infections.

Workplace clusters have also been identified as a key source of Covid-19 infections in the country with the latest data showing at least 59% of the Covid-19 infection cases come from these places.

READ MORE: Stricter Measures For SOP Flouters, Including Factories, Construction Companies, Says Muhyiddin

Previously, a youth non-governmental organisation called Pemuda Negara had called for the government to heed the calls of small businesses who’ve been struggling to survive with their operations instructed to shut down during the MCO.

In a statement, Pemuda Negara founder Dr Afif Bahardin explained that these sectors involve many local entrepreneurs who are vulnerable to the risk of going bankrupt as they enter their third week of closure during the MCO.

Credit: Pixabay

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