MIRI: Five people were arrested and 105 customers were slapped with compounds following a Covid-19 check on an entertainment outlet on Jalan Petanak in the Padungan commercial area in Kuching.

The five arrested included the manager of the outlet, three workers and a foreign customer, according to the state Disaster Relief Management Committee.

“The arrests and compounds were for various offences committed against the Covid-19 standard operating procedure,” said the committee.

A multi-agency task force is carrying out inspections to ensure compliance with Covid-19 SOPs in public places in Sarawak.

The task force is made up of the police, soldiers, Rela units, Civil Defence Department teams, local council officials and Health Department inspectors.

About 700 personnel are being mobilised throughout the state to check on supermarkets, entertainment premises, eateries, markets, government offices, public parks and places of worship.

Among the key SOPs that must be adhered to are the wearing of face-masks in public places and social distancing of at least 1m.

The committee said police are also carrying out road-blocks in southern Sarawak to prevent the Covid-19 infections from spreading.

The road-blocks are mainly concentrated in the districts of Serian, Lundu, Bau, Sri Aman and Lubok Antu.

Sarawak is battling a second wave of Covid-19 cases in the southern half of the state.

So far there have been 19 deaths and about 700 positive infections statewide.