By Sherilyn Pang
SHAH ALAM, Feb 2 — The movement control order (MCO) 2.0, which was enforced on January 13 and scheduled to end on February 4, has been extended by another two weeks until February 18.
Senior Minister (Security Cluster) Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob said interstate travel and social activities are still not allowed during the extension period with the same standard operating procedure (SOP) in place.
“Based on the MCO Risk Assessment Report by the Health Ministry (MOH), the National Security Council (NSC) has agreed to extend the MCO 2.0 across the country from February 5 to 18, except for Sarawak, which is currently under the conditional MCO (CMCO), and the areas under the enhanced MCO (EMCO),” he said in a press conference broadcasted live today.
Ismail Sabri explained that the MOH had verified that the daily Covid-19 cases in the states concerned were still showing an upward trend with cluster positivity rate of 20 to 40 per cent.
He said to date, that there have been 31 clusters linked to interstate travels, which had caused a rise in the daily Covid-19 positive cases.
As of yesterday, Malaysia has recorded a total of 4,214 new coronavirus cases.
Ismail Sabri added that a stricter standard operating procedure (SOP) will be implemented that include imposing limits on the number of people entering a supermarket in order to avoid mass gatherings.
“We will continue with stricter SOP that will be issued by the NSC,” he said.
He said the NSC is reviewing and considering applications and appeals from business sectors who want to reopen their shops.
Ismail Sabri said all application, either from car wash outlets, hairdressers, barbers and other sectors would only be approved after a risk assessment was made by the MOH before being tabled at the NSC special meeting.
“We will not reject any application just like that…we will study everything, get views from the MOH, and if these businesses can reopen, then we will allow (them to reopen),” he said.
