[UPDATED] MCO extended to Feb 18, rules to get stricter

KUALA LUMPUR – The movement control order (MCO) will be extended from Friday to February 18 in all states except Sarawak, said Senior Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob.
 
He said the extension of the MCO will also see stricter measures imposed by the National Security Council, which will be detailed in due course.
 
“For example, people are able to enter supermarkets freely, causing crowding. As such, we will revert to the previous way by limiting the number of patrons,” he said during a live address today.
 
The decision to extend the MCO, he said, was made following risk assessments by the Health Ministry. 
 
“The Health Ministry assessment revealed an upward trend in daily cases, alongside a sporadic increase of infections in communities affecting locals and foreigners. 

“It also confirmed that the number of daily cases in all states continues to show a rising trend, with the positive rate within clusters between 20% to 40%,” he said.  
 
Interstate travel also remains prohibited, as this has proven to have caused the spread of Covid-19, with 31 clusters attributed to such movements, he added.
 
While the attorney-general is in the midst of drafting new laws to increase the fines for MCO violations, Ismail Sabri said a decision on whether to adopt the new laws has yet to be made. 
 
Addressing rumours of a stricter MCO, as seen last year, Ismail Sabri said the current phase remains different compared with its predecessor as small businesses are still allowed to operate. 
 
“Despite the loosening of some restrictions, I hope the people will continue to abide by the rules.” 
 
The current MCO, known as MCO 2.0, is the country’s second following the initial round that took place from mid-March to May last year. 
 
MCO 2.0 was originally imposed from January 14 to 26 before it was extended to February 4 and now February 18, due in part to the number of daily Covid-19 infections passing the 5,000-mark in recent days.
 
Yesterday, Malaysia recorded 4,214 new cases, bringing the cumulative number of cases to 49,074, with the death toll standing at 770. – The Vibes, February 2, 2021