New covid19 rules exempt some stores from mall closure

A FEW outlets that provide certain products or services are excluded from the Prime Minister's closure of malls and shopping centres.

He announced the measure at a televised media conference on Thursday.

The exemptions are stated among the restrictions set out in the latest covid19 rules, issued on Friday in legal notice 121 and known as the Public Health (2019 Novel Coronavirus (2019-nCoV))(No 10) Regulations 2021.

Regulation 4 listed the banned places, saying, "All retail establishments at malls, strip malls and shopping plazas shall remain closed to the public."

It then named the exemptions, such as pharmacies and supermarkets.

"(This) does not apply to offices, banks, insurance companies and brokers, media, pharmacies, medical offices including dental and optical offices, supermarkets, groceries, markets, greengrocers, retail membership discount stores, bakeries and poultry depots."

It added more banned places, "Spas, hairdressers, nail and beauty technicians shall remain closed for services to the public."

The notice said religious activities and services should not be open except for funerals (including cremation) and weddings, with congregations not exceeding ten people.

It listed entertainment venues which must stay closed to the public.

These are a club (defined by the Registration of Clubs Act); a dancehall or theatre (licensed under the Theatres and Dancehalls Act); a theatre (licensed under the Cinematograph Act); a common gaming house or betting office (licensed under the Gambling and Betting Act); and a gym or fitness centre.

It also specified, "All retail business establishments shall only be open until 10 pm every day unless permitted otherwise by the minister."

It is also an offence to operate a party boat, boat tour or club; hold public parties or public fetes;run a water park or amusement park; run a bar or restaurant; or allow roadside consumption of any product provided by a street vendor selling food or drink.

It is also an offence to run a pre-school (public or private) or early childhood education centre offering classes or the care or education of young children, except if done by electronic means or otherwise as approved by the relevant minister.

Primary and secondary school and tertiary institutions should offer lessons only by electronic means or similar.

"Where classes such as practical, laboratory or other classes cannot be done by electronic means, the post-secondary or tertiary institution may conduct such classes in person by such means, as the inister may approve...Educational establishments may be open for the purpose of conducting any examination as the minister may permit."