KUALA LUMPUR – The government is extending the targeted enhanced movement control orders (EMCO) in three sites – the Jelebu Prison and its staff quarters in Negri Sembilan, the Johor Baru Correctional Centre and its staff quarters, and Dewan Segitiga Arena in Kota Tinggi, Johor.
In his daily Covid-19 press statement, Senior Minister (Defence) Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob said that initially, the EMCO in those three areas was supposed to end tomorrow, but based on the Health Ministry’s advice, the government will extend it till January 24.
At the Jelebu prison and its staff quarters, the government has screened 1,694 individuals finding 459 positive cases. 803 screening samples’ results are still pending
Meanwhile, the Health Ministry has advised the government to maintain the EMCO at the Johor Baru Correctional Centre as the number of those infected is still high with 516 positive cases out of 1,376 individuals screened.
The authorities have also found new positive cases after a second screening was conducted.
The Health Ministry advised the government to extend its EMCO at Dewan Segitiga Arena due to the high rate of infection, with the latest case recorded on January 8.
Yesterday, Ismail Sabri had said that the prime minister is expected to announce a second movement control order by Monday.
He had said that the government noted Health director-general Tan Sri Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah’s remarks on January 6 to reduce the rising surge in Covid-19 infections.
It is understood that the National Security Council is in talks with various ministries to ensure that the approach taken to fight the pandemic will be acceptable to all quarters, and would balance economic and public health needs.
Meanwhile, police today arrested 372 individuals yesterday, with all of them issued with compounds. Among the offences committed by the individuals were entertainment activities (105), failure to record customer’s details (95), not wearing face masks (93), failure to observe social distancing (76), and miscellaneous offences (3).
The border patrols have also arrested 26 undocumented migrants and seized nine land vehicles. – The Vibes, January 9, 2020
