Nightclubs have been on a hiatus since the COVID-19 pandemic began two years, but to the relief of their owners, the industry will finally be allowed to reopen with certain limitations. Despite what some business leaders expected, it seems that dancing will be permitted in the night establishments at full capacity.
The reopening was confirmed when the Ministry of Health announced the loosening of certain SOPs. During the announcement, it was also mentioned that all sectors under the negative list would be allowed to operate again starting on 15 May; nightclubs were the sole occupant of the list at that point, after being left out of the endemic transition phase.
As with other indoor establishments as per the current rules, customers visiting nightclubs are still required to mask up except for when they are drinking, eating, or dancing. While MySejahtera check-ins are no longer mandatory, workers and patrons of nightclubs will be required to turn on MySJ Trace when they enter the premises.
Only those who have Low Risk status in their MySejahtera profile will be allowed to enter and it goes without saying that individuals who are COVID positive or under Home Surveillance Order (HSO) will obviously be barred. Nightclubs will also be required to disinfect the premises should there be a positive case and they also have to report any clusters to the district health office.
To make sure no positive cases slip through, customers will be required to present a negative RTK-Ag test result which has been taken within 24 hours of their visit to the nightclub and was done under the supervision of an MMC-registered medical practitioner either in person or virtually. Alternatively, the nightclubs themselves can have the customers perform the test before entering their premises.
Given the new approval and SOPs for the nightclub, looks like all economic sectors in the country will officially be up and running again on 15 May.
(Source: MKN[PDF])
