PRIME Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin has announced Phase 3 of the Movement Control Order (MCO), an extension of two weeks, with the third phase starting from April 15 to April 28.
He noted that the MCO has brought the Covid-19 situation in Malaysia to a stable state, and has aided healthcare workers in bringing the infection under control. Through the MCO efforts, the rate of positive cases of Covid-19 in Malaysia stand at about 7%, below the 10% benchmark of the World Health Organisation (WHO). The mortality rate is also low, at 1.6% compared to the global 5.8%.
The trend of positive cases has seen a decline over the past few days.
“If this trend were to continue over the next two weeks, we will be successful in controlling the epidemic,” said Muhyiddin.
He said that while figures were encouraging with 220 recoveries against 118 new cases, more time was needed to ensure the virus was contained. He also warned that this may continue for a few months until the virus is fully controlled.
He also warned that the epidemic is currently in the mid-stages and requires continued control and strengthened prevention measures to break the chain of infection, including focusing on the infection clusters.
“The extension is to give space to our healthcare workers to fight the Covid-19 epidemic, while preventing another outbreak,” he said, adding that this meets WHO guidelines that called for nations to not end their quarantine conditions too soon.
The school term will be further pushed back, and the PM urged students towards home-based learning. The Education Ministry will put initiatives in place for home learning. He also warned that during the coming Hari Raya, people may not be able to go back to their hometowns.
He said that illegal immigrants are a transmission vector, and called for the police, army, Coast Guard, Rela, and Immigration, among others, to heighten the border watch. “Life ahead will take a new normal, we cannot go back to what was,” he said.
Muhyiddin said he realised that the economy is affected due to the MCO. A few selected economic sectors will be reopened in stages, with strict guidelines and controlled movement. A special committee led by the defence and internal trade senior ministers will study and select which economic sectors to be reopened.
However, this does not mean the MCO is lifted, and all instructions by the authorities need to be heeded. Should the instructions be flouted, the permission can be revoked. The list will be announced shortly.
The PM called for Malaysians to watch their health and continue heeding the MCO.
“Let me remind you that the war on Covid-19 is not over. Uplift your spirit and continue to fight. If we persevere, we will win,” he said.
The prime minister also extended his gratitude and appreciation for the frontliners against Covid-19, naming healthcare workers, the police, army, and civil defence arms, as well as the food delivery riders. – April 10, 2020
