Health Ministry to decide on extension of MCO beyond April 14
The Health Ministry will decide if there is a need to extend the movement control order (MCO), which started on March 18, beyond April 14 to curb the spread of the Covid-19 virus...
The Health Ministry will decide if there is a need to extend the movement control order (MCO), which started on March 18, beyond April 14 to curb the spread of the Covid-19 virus.
As for now, Defence Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob said the government has not made a decision on this matter.
“God willing, if the Health Ministry's report shows that the number of positive infections is not increasing but flattening (the MCO could be lifted).
“We pray that if the people abide by the control order, then the rate of infections would not only flatten but decline. We should pray this happens.
“So the Health Ministry will determine (if there is a need to extend the MCO),” he said in his daily briefing in Putrajaya this afternoon.
The MCO, which has inflicted a devastating economic blow prompting Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin to announce a RM250 billion stimulus package. was scheduled to end on March 31 but was extended when the number of infections continued to rise.
Certain areas have also been placed under an enhanced MCO such as seven villages in Hulu Langat, Selangor, two villages in Kluang, Johor, and a condominium in Kuala Lumpur.
As of yesterday, Malaysia recorded a total of 2,908 Covid-19 cases and 45 deaths. This is the highest number of infections in Southeast Asia.
Yesterday, Health Ministry director-general Noor Hisham Abdullah said the MCO is proving to be effective in flattening the infection curve.
However, he pointed out that the next two weeks would be crucial and urged Malaysians to remain in their homes as well as to maintain social distancing.
“The next two weeks are crucial. It will decide whether or not the government’s MCO has produced the intended impact, ” he stressed.
Prior to this, Noor Hisham said it was still premature to state if the Covid-19 pandemic would affect Ramadan and Hari Raya Aidilfitri.
Meanwhile, on concerns on whether Ramadan bazaars would be permitted in the coming weeks, Ismail said today it was too premature for federal-level discussions to be held on the matter.
“There has been no formal discussion on this yet and even the Special Cabinet Committee has yet to discuss it.
“This is as we think it is too early for a discussion on this (Ramadan bazaars),” he said.
This was following controversy after it was initially reported by national news service Bernama that Federal Territories Minister Annuar Musa that the bazaars would not be cancelled but better managed.
However, The Star reported Annuar as merely saying he wanted proposals on a revised format for Ramadan bazaars.
Annuar yesterday reiterated that there was no decision on the matter on Ramadan bazaars and that he had wanted to hear a briefing from local authorities in the Federal Territories first.
The World Health Organisation has said it expected the number of Covid-19 cases in Malaysia to peak in mid-April and agreed that the current trend showed a flattening of the curve.
Earlier, Ismail also revealed that more than 4,000 people were detained and 1,000 charged for violating the MCO.
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