KUALA LUMPUR – Given traffic volumes remain high in and around the city, the question that arises now is whether a two-week lockdown is enough to break the chain of Covid-19 infection in the country.
Checks by The Vibes revealed that traffic even came to a standstill near the Kota Darul Ehsan arch as vehicles were being combed at roadblocks mounted on both sides of the highway, as shown in this video below from yesterday (June 2).
Police officers at the roadblock said the checkpoint has been congested since yesterday morning, after roadblocks were set up by police to enforce the ongoing lockdown.
The four lanes on the Federal Highway were reduced to just two lanes with road users being checked to see if they had the relevant letters for inter-district travel.
Motorists heading to the World Trade Centre presented their vaccination appointments on the MySejahtera app. Many were on the road for work purposes, while others had urgent matters to attend to.
Meanwhile, observations at the roadblock mounted near the Gombak toll plaza yesterday afternoon found traffic flow to and from Kuala Lumpur relatively non-existent.
A few motorists who went through the roadblock had valid reasons and permission to travel inter-state.
Previously, Inspector-General of Police Datuk Seri Acryl Sani Abdullah Sani announced that there will be about 800 roadblocks nationwide, with some 55,000 police officers deployed to man them.
Mobile roadblocks will also be used in addition to permanent ones to discourage travel during the two-week lockdown.
If phase one of the lockdown is successful in reducing daily Covid-19 cases, the government will implement a four-week second phase by allowing the reopening of a few economic sectors that do not involve large gatherings.
But if it is unsuccessful in breaking the chain of infection, could this lockdown be extended for a longer period of time? – The Vibes, June 3, 2021
