Brunei's Minister of Health Haji Mohammad Isham (2nd L) gives a briefing on the country's COVID-19 situation during a press conference in Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei, May 14, 2020. As the COVID-19 epidemic situation in Brunei is basically under control, the country will ease some restrictions in public and commercial areas starting from May 16, with certain conditions, Haji Mohammad Isham said on Thursday. (Photo by Jeffrey Wong/Xinhua)
BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN, May 14 (Xinhua) -- As the COVID-19 epidemic situation in Brunei is basically under control, the country will ease some restrictions in public and commercial areas starting from May 16, with certain conditions, Haji Mohammad Isham, Brunei's Minister of Health said on Thursday.
In the first phase of a plan to gradually lift physical and social distancing measures, such premises as driving schools, sports facilities, food courts, stalls and markets will be allowed to re-open, but entries to most of these places will be limited and monitored by a mobile application, the BruHealth.
Businesses wishing to re-open to the public need to register and apply for permission and then will be given a BruHealth QR code for their premises. Customers must scan the QR code before entering and exiting the business premises, which will ensure that business owners comply with the quota imposed by the health ministry, which is 30 percent of their normal capacity at one time.
Brunei reported no new cases of COVID-19 on Thursday with the national tally of cases standing at 141, marking the seventh consecutive day without new cases.
According to Brunei's Ministry of Health, no more recoveries were recorded on Thursday, maintaining the total number of recovered cases at 134. The number of active cases being treated at the National Isolation Center is still 6.
