KUALA LUMPUR – The government has no plan to lift the ban on interstate and inter-district travels yet as they remain among the main contributors to Covid-19 infections, said Senior Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob.
This is despite calls from the public to lift the restriction, following a record high number of arrests yesterday of those flouting the government’s standard operating procedures (SOPs).
A total of 1,111 individuals were nabbed nationwide, the highest since the start of the current movement control order (MCO). Of these, 306 were caught for travelling across state and district borders without permission.
Pointing to the relaxation of SOPs in the past, Ismail Sabri noted that Kelantan had turned from a Covid-19 green zone (no active cases) to a red zone (critical) after the government allowed interstate travel.
“Cases spiked so considerably that the state was placed under MCO. Another example was in Langkawi, when many on holiday there returned home and began spreading the virus.
“Based on data issued by the Health Ministry (MoH), interstate travel does contribute to an increase in infections, and the (resultant) rate of infections is really high,” he said in a press conference today.
“Although the cases are not as much as those in factories and construction sites, it (cross-border travel) remains a Covid-19 contributor. And that is why we don’t allow travelling across states.”
As for inter-district travel, Ismail Sabri said there had also been many instances where green districts had turned to red due to lax travel restriction.
However, Ismail Sabri said that the matter will be discussed from time to time at the daily National Security Council meetings, where advice is sought from the relevant ministries and agencies on whether it is safe to lift the restriction.
“We will obtain MoH’s opinion on the matter too if there should be any changes. So I hope everybody remains patient, for the sake of your own safety.
“When the time comes and MoH deems it safe to travel across state and district borders, we will make the announcement,” he said. – The Vibes, February 16, 2021
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