All hotels and lodging houses in the state are allowed to open for business during the conditional movement control order (CMCO) period, Sarawak Tourism Minister Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah said with effect from 12 May 2020.

“However, the hotels that have been gazetted as Covid-19 quarantine stations are not allowed to receive guests unless their status as quarantine stations has been revoked by way of the necessary gazette notification,” he added.

There are currently 31 hotels in Sarawak designated for use as quarantine centers, catering to 3,609 persons under surveillance (PUS) who had returned from overseas, the peninsula, Sabah and Labuan.

Karim said hotels that were allowed to operate must ensure appropriate social distancing between guests and provide hand sanitizers.

“The use of appropriate masks by employees and guests must be ensured at all times and all safety, as well as health directives and the standard operating procedures (SOP) of the health authorities, must be strictly complied with.

“Common facilities such as gymnasiums, swimming pools, prayer rooms, saunas, spas, business centers, conference halls, and meeting rooms are not allowed to be used by guests,” he said.

Restaurants and cafeterias at hotels are allowed to operate from 7 am until 10 pm for takeaway, delivery, room service and a la carte dine-in.

However, the dine-in will be subject to the requirements of social distancing in terms of seating arrangements. Buffet meals are still prohibited.

Karim also said hotel management must report any infections among staff or guests to the state health department.

Meanwhile, Sarawak Disaster Management Committee chairman Douglas Uggah Embas said government officers and those in essential services who had to travel between Kuching and Samarahan, Kuching, and Serian, as well as Bau and Kuching for work, do not need to apply for permits from the police.

“They are allowed to travel using their departments’ passes or letters of consent,” he added.

The committee, he said, had also decided that the Hari Raya and Gawai celebrations in Sarawak will be celebrated for only one day with only 20 people comprising close family members allowed to visit.