ALOR STAR – The Kedah government does not see a need for the state to be placed under a movement control order (MCO) as the number of local cases is under control, said the state's health executive councillor Datuk Dr Mohd Hayati Othman.
At present, only 50% of total cases in Kedah are classified as local transmissions and involve Malaysians, while the other half are imported or confined to foreign workers, he said.
“We do not see a need to propose for MCO status in Kedah to the National Security Council, although there has been an increase in Covid-19 cases in the state.
“If local cases spike to nearly 80% of total cases, then can we put Kedah on alert or under MCO," he said.
He said many of the infections are of detainees from the Klang Valley who were brought to Kedah to be imprisoned or remanded over alleged offences committed in the state.
Yesterday, Kedah recorded 96 new Covid-19 cases to take its total to 809 active cases. It is currently under the conditional MCO (CMCO).
Five of the state’s 10 districts have been classified as red zones.
The five red zones are Kuala Muda, Kota Star, Kulim, Baling and Kubang Pasu.
Langkawi, meanwhile, recorded two new cases yesterday.
In Penang, the Mydin Hypermarket outlet in Bukit Jambul was ordered to close temporarily for sanitisation and disinfection works.
The closure order issued by the Health Ministry took effect from 1pm today after one worker tested positive for the virus.
It is understood that one of its staff was also told to observe home quarantine after coming into close contact with a positive staff member recently.
Mydin has three branches in Penang, namely in Bukit Jambul, George Town and Bukit Mertajam. – The Vibes, January 18, 2021
