KUALA LUMPUR: Nightclubs in the country will remain shut after April 1 when Malaysia enters the transition to endemicity phase, says Khairy Jamaluddin.

       The Health Minister said the nightclubs are still considered high-risk for Covid-19 transmission and will be the only type of premises that remains in the country's “negative list” after April 1.

       “Come April 1, there will only be one type of premises that will stay on the negative list, which is nightclubs. This is because of the nature of nightclubs. It is still considered high-risk,” said Khairy at a press conference in Parliament on Wednesday (March 9).

       Nightclubs have not been allowed to open since the start of the pandemic in March 2020.

       On Tuesday (March 8), Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob announced that Malaysia would enter the “transition to endemicity” phase from April 1.

       Under the new phase, business hours will no longer be limited and 24-hour outlets such as mamak restaurants can resume operating around the clock.