KOTA KINABALU: Eateries and petrol kiosks in Sabah are allowed an additional one-hour operating time under the National Security Council's updated standard operating procedure (SOP).

       Coffeeshops, restaurants and eateries can open from 6am to 10pm daily while petrol kiosks can operate from 5am to 10pm in the updated SOP announced on Friday (July 23) under Phase Two of the National Recovery Plan.

       Previously, both businesses were required to close at 9pm.

       Sabah Covid-19 spokesman Datuk Seri Masidi Manjun said the measures standardised the operational times with other states in the country.

       Under the SOPs, the two-people per table ruling remains. Although buffet dining is now allowed, it is subjected to operators providing customers with disposable gloves. Otherwise, operators must serve the people directly at their respective tables.

       All social gatherings or other entertainment at outlets are not allowed.

       The SOPs now allow for markets as well as roadside vegetable, fish and fruit stalls to operate from 6am to 6pm instead of closing at 4pm.

       Earlier Friday, the SOPs were initially updated with errors that said that food and beverage outlets were barred from selling alcohol as well as serving buffets.

       But it was amended at 4.30pm to include the rules over buffet while the alcohol ban was no longer included under the updated SOPs.

       Sabah recorded 516 new Covid-19 cases on Friday.

       Masidi said there were more districts registering double-digit cases.

       "New cases remain very high as more districts registered double-digit cases," he said, adding that most of the new cases were due to direct contacts.

       The city continued to record three-digit figures with 108 cases.

       He said that south-western Sipitang's Melanam cluster contributed 49 of the 67 new cases for the district, Tawau (47), Kalabakan (41), Tuaran (40), Sandakan (35), Penampang (33), Beaufort (28), Putatan (25), Papar (20).