With everything seemingly going back to the way it was pre-pandemic, it's easy to forget that there are still standard operating procedures (SOPs) that we all need to follow.

Well, the government doesn't want you to forget that at all.

Businesses are being lax

The Health Ministry will begin to intensify enforcement of SOPs at restaurants and business premises nationwide.

Health Minister Khairy Jamaluddin told Bernama that the Ministry has received reports that traders are no longer checking customers’ vaccination status.

The Ministry is taking the current COVID-19 situation seriously, and they are taking measures to ensure that the infection rate will be reduced.


Image credit: Malay Mail

“Apart from efforts to expand booster recipients, the MoH has also intensified enforcement, especially at business premises. This is because the MoH has received reports that many business premises are no longer checking customers’ vaccination status.

“I have instructed the ministry’s enforcement division to review business premises and issue compounds to those who do not check the customers’ vaccination status and comply with standard operating procedures (SOPs) set by the MoH,” he was quoted as saying.

Cases are slowly increasing

The Ministry's concerns are valid, as the number of daily COVID-19 cases have been increasing.

According to Khairy, only three states in Malaysia did not show an increase in cases: Perlis, Sabah and Sarawak.

Khairy further revealed that seven states in the country -- Penang, Kuala Lumpur, Putrajaya, Selangor, Terengganu, Kelantan and Melaka -- showed a total intensive care unit (ICU) bed filling rate of more than 50 per cent.


Image credit: The Straits Times

“Among COVID-19 patients in Categories 3 to 5 being treated at health facilities, it was found that there was an increase in the number of patients in the 40 to 59 age group, and also in the elderly group, aged 60 and above,” he was quoted as saying.

Khairy said the sudden increase in cases could be attributed to several factors, including flexibilities allowed for interstate travel as well as the reduced antibody levels against COVID-19.

Register for booster shots

While there's still no cure for COVID-19, it's important to keep yourself safe.

Last Friday (26 November), the government announced that Malaysians aged 18 and above can now register for booster shots.

If you are eligible to receive a booster dose, these are the steps that you need to follow to sign up as a backup list at a Pusat Pemberian Vaksin (PPV) private healthcare facility.

Visit https://t.co/fqAJqK9Edh for the full list of PPV private healthcare facilities involved. pic.twitter.com/dD26q7cMgv

— ProtectHealth Corporation (@protecthealthco) November 24, 2021

To register for the booster shots, just follow the steps below:

Step 1: Visit ProtectHealth's website by clicking here to find your nearest private vaccination centre (PPV).
Step 2: You can register yourself by dropping the PPV an e-mail, call them and even walk-in to the PPV.
Step 3: Provide the PPV with the following details:Step 4: Wait for the PPV to contact you.

Of course, please take note that you may not get your appointment slots as early as you'd hope, because the government is currently focused on giving the booster shots to those who need it first.

So, for the moment, you would be placed on the waiting list.

If you're eligible, do remember to register and wait patiently for the PPV to contact you, OK?

MAIN IMAGE CREDIT: Malay Mail