Two-hour time limit for social gatherings
Published on: Saturday, February 12, 2022
By: Anthea Peter
Kota Kinabalu: The State Government has restricted social gatherings to just two hours maximum, effective immediately, as part of the latest Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) under Phase Four of the National Recovery Plan (NRP) released Thursday.Sabah’s Covid-19 Spokesperson Datuk Seri Masidi Manjun said the two-hour time limit applies to birthdays, anniversaries, festivities, reunions, retreats, tahlil, doa selamat, aqiqah ceremonies and other social ceremonies.
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He said such gatherings are limited to 50 guests only or half of the space’s capacity while guests are not allowed to engage in any communal activities such as karaoke, dancing or blowing out candles.
However, Masidi said weddings and engagement ceremonies as well as receptions are allowed an extra hour subject to 150 guests at most or 50 per cent of the space’s capacity.
He added that official and unofficial functions in both public and private sectors are also subject to a two-hour time limit and maximum of 150 attendees or one-third of the premise’s space, subject to mandatory SOPs
Meeting, Incentives, Conventions and Exhibitions (Mice) activities are allowed on condition that all attendees are fully vaccinated, subject to 50 per cent capacity of the premise space.
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“All individuals must undergo a pre-event screening using a self-test kit, witnessed by the organiser or with verification from a health practitioner,” he said.
Masidi said the five daily prayers and Friday prayers at State Mosques, City Mosques, Division Mosques (Tawau and Sandakan) as well as District Mosques are limited to 150 worshippers at a time or one third of the premise’s space.
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For other mosques and suraus, prayers are limited to 100 worshippers at a time or one third of the premise’s space.
“Worshippers must comply with one-meter physical distancing and the use of face masks. Each congregant is required to bring their own prayer mat,” said Masidi.
Prayer sessions at non-Muslim houses of worship are also subject to the limit of 150 worshippers at a time or one third of the building’s space.
“Prayers are allowed at no more than two hours at a time between 6am and 10pm, and must be interspersed with sanitisation works 30 minutes before the next prayer session starts,” Masidi explained.
However, body temperature checks at public premises are no longer required.
“Premise owners need ensure that only visitors without symptoms and with “low risk/casual contact low risk status” on MySejahtera are allowed to enter the premises.
“The Covid-19 vaccination card is also accepted as proof of vaccination status in case MySejahtera is unavailable,” he said.
The latest SOPs have also outlined new quarantine protocols for international travellers entering Sabah.
He said the quarantine period for those who have received their booster shots have been shortened to five days, while those who have completed two doses only will be required to quarantine for seven days and those unvaccinated/partially vaccinated for 10 days.
“Those observing quarantine will no longer need to undergo PCR test on the fifth day (seven-day quarantine) or on the eight day (10-day quarantine),” Masidi explained.
Masidi said all schools and education institutes under the Malaysian Education Ministry (MOE) are allowed to open with students enrolled in stages, subject to the MOE as well as the Malaysian Health Ministry (MOH) and National Security Council’s (NSC) risk evaluation.
“In case there are positive Covid-19 cases, the opening or closure of primary and secondary schools will be subject to the State Health Department’s directive,” he explained.
Sabah’s cases spiked from 2,969 on Thursday to 3,361 on Friday, while two clusters were identified in Nabawan and Kota Belud respectively. Four deaths were recorded, three in Papar and one in Tuaran.
Masidi said another education cluster was identified in Kota Belud, named as the Pengkalan Apai cluster stemming from the female hostel at SMKA Tun Said and a teacher’s family.
“The index case is an 18-year-old female student who was tested positive on Feb 7. Close contact screenings on teachers, her roommates and classmates found another 38 positive, bringing the tally in this cluster to 39,” he said.
Masidi said the cluster in Nabawan involves the community, named as the Loboh Nabawan Cluster, which was believed to be sparked by a funeral ceremony in Kg Loboh on Feb 1.
“The index case is a 59-year-old local woman, who started having fever, cough, flu, headaches and sore throat on Feb 6.
“She went to get treatment and was found positive after undergoing a screening on Feb 8 at the Nabawan Health Clinic. Close contact screenings found another 16 positive,” he said.
On the caseload, Masidi said Kota Kinabalu topped the list with 782 cases, followed by Sandakan (374), Tuaran (310), Tawau (263), Penampang 254 kes, Papar 244 kes, Lahad Datu 152 kes, Beaufort (123) Kota Belud (122) and Ranau (107).
“Sporadic infections remain high with 1,785 or 53.11 per cent of cases being symptomatic. A total of 18 out of 27 districts recorded a higher number of symptomatic cases and are likely to record a greater spike in cases,” he said.
Masidi said there are 36 active clusters throughout Sabah to date, comprising 26 education clusters, six workplace clusters, two community clusters, one religious cluster and one high-risk cluster.
Overall, he said a majority of cases are asymptomatic to mild, with 3,353 out of 3,361 cases in category one and two. There are five cases in category three, two in category four and one in category five.
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