Businesses in five Pahang districts ordered to close from 7pm to 7am from Saturday (March 21)

Pahang Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Wan Rosdy Wan Ismail. – Bernama

KUANTAN: Come Saturday (March 21), all businesses in five Pahang districts must close from 7pm to 7am daily as an additional measure to curb the Covid-19 outbreak in the state.

Pahang Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Wan Rosdy Wan Ismail said the order would be imposed in the districts of Kuantan, Pekan, Jerantut, Bentong and Temerloh, where Covid-19 cases had been reported.

Additionally, the order had been implemented in Cameron Highlands since March 18 when the movement control order (MCO) came into effect, said Wan Rosdy.

All shops, including eateries, convenience stores and petrol stations, would not be allowed to operate for 12 hours as a preventive measure, he said.

This would also include sale of food through takeaway and drive-through services.

The order will be in place until the end of the MCO or until further notice.

"The day before yesterday (March 17), we found that there was an increase in the number of cases. We want to prevent the disease from spreading further so we are imposing this measure.

"If the situation improves, we will review the matter. We do not want the people to panic since the situation is still under control," Wan Rosdy said in a statement on Thursday (March 19).

As at 10am Thursday, 32 people in Pahang have tested positive for Covid-19 while another 650 are under investigation.

Wan Rosdy said if there is a further increase in the number of infections, the state government will not hesitate to impose additional drastic measures. - Star