Bars and casinos will only be allowed to open their establishments from 8am.

The new stipulation in the Public Health Regulations erases a loophole which saw bar and casino owners closing at the required 10pm time daily, but reopening after midnight on the following day.

The change was made in the Public Health [2019 Novel Coronavirus (2019-Ncov)] (No. 20) Regulations, 2020, issued on Wednesday.

Previously, the regulations only stipulated that all businesses, regardless of their nature, must close by 10pm.

Citizens are reminded that breaching the public health regulations can result in being hit with a fine $50,000 and imprisonment for six months.