Malaysia

As Penang’s hospital beds near limit, Chow hints at return of MCO

State’s main hospitals reach 83% bed occupancy, while over 300 new Covid-19 cases logged for second day

Updated 5 years ago · Published on 07 May 2021 10:21PM

As Penang’s hospital beds near limit, Chow hints at return of MCO
Penang Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow was non-committal when quizzed if the state will come under the MCO again, saying only that various outcomes are possible. – Chow Kon Yeow Twitter pic, May 7, 2021

by Ian McIntyre

GEORGE TOWN – Penang Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow has hinted that the dreaded movement control order (MCO) may be imposed in the state soon.

Chow said the hospital beds in Penang’s main hospitals are now 83% full as the state comes to terms with two consecutive days of over 300 Covid-19 cases – a record for the country’s third smallest state after Perlis and Malacca.

Although no concrete answer was given on whether the state would emulate Kuala Lumpur and Selangor in reintroducing the MCO here, Chow said that the state needs to be prepared for various possibilities.

Chow urged residents here to be extra careful in mitigating the rise of Covid-19 cases in the state.

Meanwhile, PKR Senator Mohd Yusmadi Yusoff has called on Putrajaya to undertake a bipartisan approach to handling Covid-19 as it had become a national crisis. 

He said that the federal government’s bid to shake off growing infections was floundering and that it was best to rope in help from the opposition to form effective measures to tackle Covid-19. – The Vibes, May 7, 2021

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