How has the list of essential services expanded for the shutdown?

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The List of Essential Services Has Been Expanded to Include Hotels, Wildlife Services, Customs, and Immigration

The government has officially expanded the list of essential activities permitted to operate during the nationwide shutdown, with hotels, wildlife services, Customs, and Immigration now officially classified as essential services. These additions were formalized in new government regulations gazetted on March 18, which are effective from March 18 until March 31. The Prevention and Control of Infectious Diseases (Measures Within the Infected Local Areas) Regulations 2020, issued by Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Adham Baba, detail these updated provisions.
Expanded Scope of Essential Services

The latest regulations introduce a comprehensive list of services deemed essential. Beyond the initial provisions, this expanded list now explicitly includes banking and finance; electricity and energy; fire services; port, dock, and airport operations, encompassing activities like stevedoring, cargo handling, and pilotage; postal services; and prison services. Furthermore, the production, refining, storage, supply, and distribution of fuel and lubricants are classified as essential, alongside healthcare and medical services.
Additional Services Included

The updated list also incorporates crucial public infrastructure and administrative functions. Solid waste management, public cleansing, and sewerage operations are now officially recognized as essential. Radio communication, including broadcasting and television, telecommunication services, and all forms of transport by land, water, or air are also covered. Water supply, e-commerce, defence and security operations, and the entire food supply chain remain critical.
New Additions to the Essential List

Significant new inclusions to the essential services list are hotels and accommodations, wildlife services, immigration, and customs. These additions broaden the scope of operations permitted during the movement control period. The regulations also stipve that any other services or works determined by the minister to be essential or critical to public health or safety will be considered part of the essential services.
Comparison with Previous Announcements

This expanded list supersedes the initial announcement made by the prime minister, which had previously included water, electricity, telecommunications, postal services, transportation, irrigation, oil and gas, fuel, lubricants, broadcast, financial, banking, health, pharmacies, fire and rescue, prison services, ports, airports, security, defence, cleaning, sundry goods, and food supply. The inclusion of hotels, for instance, carries specific operational caveats, limiting services to existing guests and restricting food and beverage options to room service only, with a minimum on-site staff for critical needs.

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How has the list of essential services expanded for the shutdown?

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