KUALA LUMPUR – Malaysia will be placed under total lockdown from June 1 to 14, said Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin.
All sectors are ordered to close except for essential economic and services that will be listed by the National Security Council.
This comes after the nation recorded its highest daily Covid-19 cases at 8,290 today, and active cases of more than 70,000 and a death toll of 2,552 people, said a statement issued by the Prime Minister’s Office.
“If this Phase One lockdown successfully reduces the daily Covid-19 cases, the government will move to a Phase Two lockdown, which is allowing the reopening of some economic sectors that do not involve large crowds and can be subject to physical distancing.
“This Phase Two lockdown will be implemented for a period of four weeks after Phase One has ended.
“After Phase Two ends, the next step is Phase Three, which is to implement the movement control order similar to what is currently enforced – where social activities are not allowed and almost all economic sectors are allowed to operate subject to strict standard operating procedures (SOPs) and limited physical attendance at the workplace.”
He added that the decision to move from one phase to the next will be subject to a risk assessment by the Health Ministry (MoH).
The assessment will be made based on the development of daily Covid-19 cases and the hospital capacity in treating patients.
“Following the government’s decision to close most of the economic and social sectors, the Finance Ministry will detail the assistance package for the rakyat and the affected economic sectors. An announcement on this assistance package will be made in the near future.
“The government will ensure that the public health system will not collapse and various support and assistance will be given to the MoH to increase the capacity of hospitals across the country.
“With the recent exponential increase in daily cases, the capacity of hospitals nationwide to treat Covid-19 patients has become increasingly limited.
“The government will also increase the rate of vaccinations over the next few weeks in an effort to ensure herd immunity in the country.”
Today’s decision also took into account the new coronavirus variants that are deemed “more vicious” with a high infectivity rate.
On May 21, Muhyiddin announced tighter restrictions under the current movement control order (MCO 3.0) following a spike in Covid-19 cases.
The following day, Senior Minister (Security) Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob announced that some 6.1 million, or 40%, of private workers and 750,000, or 80%, of civil servants would be asked to work from home starting May 25 amid a stricter MCO 3.0.
Public transport capacity would be reduced 50%, while all retail activities limited to 8am to 8pm, he added.
The limited operating hours were applicable to all food and beverage premises, retail and grocery stores, laundromats and so on. Park and dine services prohibited.
Night markets were allowed to operate only from 4pm to 8pm. An exception was made for pharmacies, which were opened until 10pm, and petrol stations, which could open from 6am to 8pm – except for those along major highways, which stayed open 24 hours.
“These restrictions are additional to the existing MCO standard operating procedures (SOPs) for Peninsular Malaysia and Labuan. It will begin on May 25 onwards, while detailed SOPs for economic sectors will be announced by the International Trade and Industry Ministry,” said Ismail Sabri.
“More roadblocks will be set up as authorities escalate their monitoring activities.
“Additionally, enforcement authorities will also intensify their inspections. Those with the power to compound must supervise SOP compliance in public areas.” – The Vibes, May 28, 2021
