ALOR STAR – It was a failed opportunity for Kedah when the state was unable to ward off fresh infections during the Hari Raya Aidilfitri break.
The state has for the past two days recorded the highest number of cases in the northern region.
This, despite earlier warnings by the state government for the people to practise extra caution to curb Covid-19 infections during the festive period.
In expressing his disappointment, state Health and Local Government Committee chairman Datuk Dr Mohd Hayati Othman said the state failed to stem the spread of new Covid-19 variants, which contributed to the spike in cases.
The state recorded three deaths and 236 new cases yesterday – the ninth-highest in the country.
In Alor Star, 799 cases were recorded over the past eight days.
Dr Hayati said the National Security Council had no choice but to invoke the enhanced movement control order (EMCO) from tomorrow until June 1 in a bid to curb the spread of the virus.
“Kedah is conscious of what is happening as neighbouring Penang could not shake off the infections.
“We are worried, but the cases are still surging despite the lockdown halting interstate and inter-district travel.”
Currently, there are 975 active cases in the sub-districts of Mergong, Pengkalan Kundor, Derja, Kota Setar, Anak Bukit and Kangkong.
Meanwhile, in Langkawi, a fresh case was detected yesterday, but the concern of state authorities is that the eight cases reported on Saturday were sporadic, resulting in health authorities being unable to determine the original carrier.
“The fact that this is an island makes the question of how Covid-19 is spreading even more compelling, when it should have been easier to contain the spread,” said Oli Khalid, a restaurateur.
Since last week, entry to the island has been restricted to only ferry services, as no flights are allowed due to the lockdown.
There is an average of just three daily ferry trips from either Kuala Kedah or Kuala Perlis, but with the EMCO in place, these trips may now be reduced to just once daily.
Langkawi MP and former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad in his Facebook post appealed to islanders to adhere to the standing operating procedures to curb the spread of the coronavirus so the tourism sector can be revived. – The Vibes, May 18, 2021
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