KOTA KINABALU – Sabah will maintain its existing conditional movement control order (CMCO) standard operating procedures (SOPs), despite a stricter set of MCO regulations for Peninsular Malaysia and Labuan from May 24.
The National Security Council issued the updated SOPs for the CMCO in Sabah at about 8pm today. However, they are similar to the ones currently observed in the state.
It is too early to tell if there will be changes to these updated rules following the tightening of SOPs in the peninsula and Labuan as announced by Senior Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob earlier today.
Unlike the stricter MCO 3.0, SOPs in the state, among others, allow:
- Dine-in at food outlets;
- Operating hours for almost all businesses, including pharmacies, restaurants and supermarkets, are from 6am to 12am; and,
- Hotspots Identification for Dynamic Engagement-listed premises are allowed to open but with intervention actions.
Sabah Covid-19 spokesman Datuk Seri Masidi Manjun in his daily statement today also made no mention of stricter SOPs in the state.
Sabah recorded 189 new Covid-19 cases today, with Tawau logging the highest number of infections with 66 cases, followed by Kota Kinabalu (34), as well as Kunak and Penampang (16 each).
Masidi said individuals from Labuan who travel to Sabah have created two new clusters in the state, and contributed to the high number of Covid-19 cases.
Fresh infections from Labuan stood at 84 yesterday, with another 36 today.
“The R-naught rate for Labuan cases has reached 2.55,” said Masidi.
“Hence, the state government is advising members of the public who have recently visited Labuan or have received visits from those from Labuan to be alert about their health.”
Labuan recorded 36 new Covid-19 cases today.
It also logged three new clusters, including the Idani cluster in Semporna, Abaka cluster in Tawau and Melikai cluster in Kuala Penyu.
Both the Abaka and Melikau clusters involve teachers in the Federal Territory.
Abaka’s index case involves a 26-year-old teacher and his wife who had gone to Tawau to celebrate Hari Raya Aidilfitri. A total of 38 cases have been identified in this cluster, with 65 individuals still awaiting test results.
Melikau’s index case is a 50-year-old kindergarten teacher who had been experiencing cough and fever before she entered Sabah from Labuan, but was tested negative during screening.
She stayed for four days in Kg Melingkau Menumbok for Hari Raya before returning to Labuan. Before she got her Covid-19 jab, she was screened and the test results came back positive on May 17. She has infected 16 individuals, while 74 are still awaiting results.
Meanwhile, the Covid-19 bed capacity is now at 21.31% in Sabah. – The Vibes, May 22, 2021
