Covid-19 will stay for at least two years, can't keep MCO for that long - Ismail Sabri

CORONAVIRUS | The Covid-19 virus is expected to remain a threat until a vaccine is produced as the movement control order (MCO) cannot be a long-term solution to a global pandemic, said Defence Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob today.

"Medical experts have said that the Covid-19 virus will be among us for at least another two years.

"It would be impossible for us to extend the MCO for two years just because the virus will be around us," he said.

Citing Taiwan as an example, Ismail credited the low infection rates without any restricted movement orders due to the discipline of its citizens.

"Even without a lockdown, they are among the best at controlling the outbreak due to the discipline of its citizens who take care of their personal safety.

"We must have self-regulation to ensure our own safety and the safety of our family members, as well as our community," said the senior minister in charge of the security cluster during the daily National Security Council Covid-19 update press conference in Putrajaya.

Ismail reiterated that the government had eased MCO restrictions to help boost the economic sectors, including small and petty traders whose income has been slashed over the past one month.

"We know that Covid-19 is still around us, so it is upon us to take care of our health," he stressed.

Ismail said the same consideration for self-regulation should also be made by parents when quizzed whether a special procedure will be drafted to prevent families from going out with their young children.

Under the new conditional MCO, the present regulation for two persons in one car has been relaxed to four, providing that all four individuals are living in the same house.

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