PETALING JAYA, July 5 (Sin Chew Daily) – Members of the public are reminded to sanitize their hands before and after filling their tanks at petrol stations.

The health ministry announced 17 new COVID-19 infection clusters yesterday, including a Pengkalan Batu cluster that involved a 22-year-old petrol station attendant who tested positive on June 29.

Public Health Specialist Association president Dr Zainal Ariffin Omar told Sin Chew Daily other than complying with the standard operating procedures, members of the public must also sanitize both their hands before and after touching the petrol pump.

He urged the public to make it a habit to sanitize their hands each time after entering and leaving their cars, not just at the petrol station.

Meanwhile, UKM's health economics, hospital and health management Professor Sharifa Ezat Wan Puteh concurred that drivers must sanitize their hands each time after touching the petrol pump.

However, she cautioned that hand sanitizers may contain alcohol and care must be exercised when using them at the petrol pump.

"We must put on face masks and avoid coming into contact with people. Keep at least one meter social distance.

"If possible, use cashless payment and avoid contact with anyone.".

She also reminded petrol station owners to screen their workers and vaccinate them.

"The operators must control the number of people at not more than five persons each time."