KUALA LUMPUR – The government will maintain the interstate travel ban, as such movements have led to a spike in coronavirus infections, said Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob.
The senior minister told a press conference here that the matter was decided at a meeting of the Covid-19 technical committee meeting today.
The decision is not a popular one, he said, but necessary to curb the disease.
“Cases have increased in other countries. India is recording more than 200,000 cases daily, pushing its total infections to over 14 million. In the capital, New Delhi, scores of hotels and halls have been converted into facilities housing Covid-19 patients.
“We definitely do not want such a situation in Malaysia.”
He said 38 interstate travel clusters, involving 5,471 cases, were recorded from December 20 last year to April 20, with seven clusters, involving 423 cases, logged this month alone.
Ismail Sabri said Ramadan bazaars nationwide are allowed to operate until 2am starting tomorrow, following appeals by traders.
“We were informed that visitors would go to the bazaars after Ishak and tarawih prayers, and allowing traders to operate only until midnight is too small a window.”
He said the standard operating procedures for the Hari Raya Aidilfitri celebrations next month will be announced next week.
On school closures due to coronavirus cases, he said the matter needs to go through the Education and Health Ministries.
“I hope state governments do not make decisions on their own, because this is under the jurisdiction of the Education Ministry.” – Bernama, April 23, 2021
