Senior Minister: More than four family members can dine-in at the same table

Senior Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob has announced that the government has agreed to amend its SOP for dine-in restaurants which would allow larger families to sit together. However, social distancing is still required.

During a media briefing this afternoon, he said there is some confusion with regards to the dine-in restaurant guidelines. He said sometimes families would have to sit separately as there’s a maximum limit of 4 persons per table as stated in the dine-in SOP that was issued last month.

Because people and operators are strictly adhering to the SOP, a family of six would have to split up with four members at a table and another two at a separate table. Ismail Sabri said that there’s no issue for families to sit at the same table as long as social distancing is maintained.

He said tables can be combined so that family members can sit together but he emphasised that distance must be maintained between other customers. He repeated that if there’s a long table that can accommodate 10 persons, 10 family members can sit together as long as there’s a safe distance in between customers. He said social distancing is more important than separating the tables.

Since the 27th of May, the government has lifted the 4 people in 1 car limit for family members. Malaysia has gradually loosened restrictions under the Recovery Movement Control Order which is scheduled to end on the 31st August 2020.

Just recently, the authorities have allowed drivers to carry non-family members and it is now permitted to carpool with co-workers. Public transportation including airlines and eHailing are also permitted to operate at 100% capacity as long as they adhere to SOP which includes temperature checks and mandatory face masks by all parties.

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