KUALA LUMPUR: Childcare centres registered with the Social Welfare Department are allowed to operate during the two-week Movement Control Order (MCO) enforced in five states and Federal Territories.
The Women, Family and Community Development Ministry in a statement today said also allowed to operate are childcare centres in states placed under the Conditional Movement Control Order (CMCO) and Recovery Movement Control Order (RMCO).
"Permission to operate during the MCO, CMCO, and RMCO period is in accordance with the Prevention and Control Infectious Diseases Act 1988 (Act 342).
"Every childcare centre is required to comply with the Covid-19 standard operating procedures (SOP) as issued by the ministry and approved by the National Security Council (NSC)."
The ministry said childcare centre operators who wished to operate during the period must inform JKM, prior to resuming operations.
"For operators at government premises; be it at the Federal or state levels, they must apply for permission to operate from the respective ministry or agency."
The ministry, however, said should there be any latest instructions from the authorities, the permission to operate will be revoked.
"The ministry will also enhance its monitoring on registered childcare centres operating during this period, to ensure full compliance with the SOPs as set by the Health Ministry and the NSC."
On Monday, Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin announced tighter measures to contain the spread of Covid-19 in the country.
Penang, Selangor, Kuala Lumpur, Putrajaya, Labuan, Melaka, Johor, and Sabah were placed under MCO, while Pahang, Perak, Negri Sembilan, Kedah, Terengganu and Kelantan under CMCO, for a period of two weeks starting today to Jan 26.
Perlis and Sarawak were placed under RMCO.