KUALA LUMPUR, April 9 (NNN-BERNAMA) — Thursday is the 23rd day of the Movement Control Order (MCO) imposed in Malaysia to curb the spread of COVID-19, with six more days left to go, but what is worrying is that the number of non-compliance cases continue to grow.
Health Director-General Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah voiced his concerns over this at the daily press conference Wednesday, saying that some people were still conducting activities which violated the MCO, like visiting relatives.
Even the number of vehicles on the roads has been increasing, he said.
Meanwhile, Senior Minister (Security Cluster) Ismail Sabri Yaakob revealed that as of yesterday, the number of people who went against the MCO increased by 13 per cent to 454 on Tuesday compared with 403 on Monday.
The number of areas throughout the country categorised as COVID-19 red zones also increased to 23 after Sepang in Selangor and Kota Samarahan, Sarawak recorded more than 41 cases on Tuesday.
To date, the Enhanced Movement Control Order has been imposed on several locations, namely Simpang Renggam (Johor), Hulu Langat (Selangor) and three buildings in Kuala Lumpur – Menara City One, Selangor Mansion and Malayan Mansion.
As of yesterday, the highest number of positive COVID-19 cases were recorded in Selangor (1,078), Kuala Lumpur (685) and Johor (496).
Looking at the current situation, there is a possibility that the MCO which is scheduled to end next Tuesday may instead be extended.
Beginning yesterday, the Royal Malaysia Police (PDRM) have started to slap compounds of up to RM1,000 on people who violate the MCO.
Meanwhile, as of Wednesday 166 patients have been confirmed cured, while 156 new cases were recorded, bringing the total number of positive COVID-19 cases in Malaysia to 4,119. The number of deaths meanwhile has gone up to 65.
The responsibility is now on the people to obey the MCO in order to break the chain of COVID-19 infections in the country.
— NNN-BERNAMA