SHAH ALAM: Restaurants with bar settings or "resto-bars" in Selangor will only be allowed to remain open until 11pm starting tomorrow.
Selangor Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Amirudin Shari in a statement on measures taken to mitigate the spread of Covid-19 said failure to comply with the instruction would see business licenses revoked.
"Besides complying with the National Security Council's Recovery Movement Control Order in maintaining the operation ban on nightclubs and bars, restaurants with the concept of bars will also face restrictions where they should close by 11pm, effective Saturday (Oct 3)."
Amirudin also said it was not advisable or encouraged to hold conferences and mass gatherings in the state amid the escalating cases.
"The maximum limit (of a public gathering) at any one time is 250 people," he said.
Amirudin said these were part of Selangor's "best approach" to contain the spread and prevent a possible third wave of Covid-19 transmission in the state.
He said with appropriate measures, Selangor would succeed in controlling the situation.
"I chaired the Special Meeting of the Selangor State Security Working Committee this afternoon and the Covid-19 Selangor Task Force Meeting yesterday via online, to get a clear and accurate picture and make some decisions.
"Among the measures taken are the operating hours of the Covid-19 Operations Room based in the Selangor Economic Action Council control room, at the state administration building, has been extended until 7pm to enable the state government to monitor and review latest Covid-19 developments."
Amirudin said the state government also wanted to assist the Health Ministry in facilitating the detection of Covid-19 infection by conducting free targeted screening for all Selangor citizens with a history of travelling to Sabah between Sept 20 and Sept 26.
"This screening can be done at all Selcare Clinic branches owned by a state government subsidiary, Selgate Healthcare Sdn Bhd with proof of return flight documents from Sabah, as well as proof of permanent residence in Selangor such as water or electricity bill.
"Special arrangements are also made for screening to be done at the public halls in Kuala Selangor district on a date and location that will be finalised later," he said.
Amirudin said the state government was also taking immediate steps to improve SELangkah app, on which users could obtain information about premises reportedly exposed to Covid-19 and the sanitisation date of the premises.
He added Selangor would establish four temporary detention centres for illegal immigrants in several suitable locations to reduce the risk of transmission to frontliners.
Amiruddin said Selangor once recorded a high case value during the beginning of this pandemic but remained under control, proving that the previous method was effective with full support from the community.