DESPITE the number of new Covid-19 cases still high, Sarawak has deemed it fit to lift the month-long dine-in ban it had imposed in eight districts in the southern end of the state.

The state disaster management committee said today restaurants, coffeeshops and other eateries in the districts of Kuching, Bau, Lundu, Samarahan, Asajaya, Simunjan, Serian and Tebedu can resume their dine-in service from Monday.

The committee, in its daily update on the state’s Covid situation, however said the eateries could only resume the dine-in service if they comply with two conditions set by the committee.

The first is that the operators or owners of the eateries, employees and their customers are fully vaccinated and the second is that the food premise meet the ventilation requirements and standard set by the state Housing and Local Government Ministry.

The operating hours remain unchanged – from 5am to 10pm.

The high rate of daily infections have kept these eight southern districts in Phase 2 of the national recovery plan while the rest of the state are already enjoying the benefits of phase 3.

Of the 3,480 new cases reported in the state today, 996 are in the Kuching district.

Serian has the second highest number with 442 cases.

There were also three deaths reported – one each in Kuching, Sarikei and Sibu.

On inter-district travels, the committee reiterated that the the RT-PCR or RTK-Antigen tests are no longer required as part of the travel permit.

The decision to do away with the tests was made on September 10.

Only a police permit is still required for the travels, the committee added. – September 17, 2021.