KUALA LUMPUR – The enhanced movement control order (EMCO) will be enforced in two areas in Sabah, namely Kg Rimbayan in Keningau and Kg Simpang 3A, Merotai Besar in Tawau, from tomorrow until April 15.
Senior Minister (Security) Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob said this follows confirmation by the Health Ministry (MoH) on the spike in Covid-19 cases in the two areas, with high infectability rates within the communities.
He said in Kg Rimbayan, 301 screening tests were conducted, of which 29 infections were recorded up to yesterday.
“In Kg Simpang 3A, also up to yesterday, 12 tests were conducted, out of which seven were positive while the results for four are still pending.
“Hence, after evaluating the risks involved together with the various agencies in the MCO Technical Committee and on advice of MoH, the government agreed to implement the EMCO in the two localities,” he said in a statement on the MCO today.
Ismail said the EMCO in Kg Rimbayan would let MoH conduct targeted screening of all residents, control movement and curb the spread of the viral infection within the community, and, for Kg Simpang 3A, to prevent it from spreading to other areas.
On MCO flouters, Ismail said only two people were caught and compounded yesterday for interstate/inter-district travel without permits.
He said meanwhile, 50 illegal immigrants were arrested and two boats and five vehicles seized in Ops Benteng.
On mandatory health screening for foreign workers, he said 2,950 were screened yesterday and 43 were found to be infected with Covid-19.
He said cumulatively, 667,896 foreign workers serving 34,653 employers have been screened for Covid-19 and out of the number, 10,116 were confirmed positive. – Bernama, April 1, 2021
