IF you have a family of six and find going out together with your children for dinner is a frustrating lot because coffee shops and restaurants had to adhere to strict social distancing procedures during the COVID-19 Movement Control Period (MCO) period.

Now you can do so with ease. Take them out for a good meal or two for all you want now.
Any restaurants that your children had longed to dine in since March 18.

These outlets are now allowed to operate at full capacity, provided that social distancing is adhered to.

Of course, you still need to scan the barcode upon entering the shop and have your temperature checked as you do while shopping at the shopping malls.

This piece of good news came from Defence Senior Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob who announced that the government had agreed to amend the standard operating procedures (SOP) for restaurants and eateries so that they could operate at maximum capacity during the Recovery Movement Control Order (RMCO) period.

“However, the number of diners per table is subject to the size of the table, as well as adherence to social distancing,” he said.

However, there was no need for the public to be confused over how many diners could be seated at the same table, he added.

He said there is no fixed limit to it.

Even then, social distancing must be observed. That rule hasn’t changed for now and is likely to stay for a long while.

“Previously, we had limited it to four diners per table.

“In some instances, a family of six would then have to sit at separate tables to comply with the SOP.

“As such, tables can now be joined to ensure social distancing, which is the most important thing,” Ismail said.

Many restaurants and eateries had been badly hit due to the MCO, which came into force on March 18 to curb the spread of Covid-19.

The subsequent Conditional MCO last month saw the loosening of regulations, with eateries finally allowed to accommodate a limited number of dine-in customers.-

PHOTO: NSTP file picture.