Covid-19: MCA calls on govt to implement partial MCO to check spread of third wave

 

PETALING JAYA: The government should implement a partial movement control order (MCO) to control the spread of the third wave of Covid-19, says MCA.

Party secretary-general Datuk Chong Sin Woon (pic) said that although it is not feasible for the country to execute a full MCO, he said certain key measures can be restarted to flatten the curve.

“As the number of confirmed Covid-19 cases continues to soar, the government should consider re-introducing a partial MCO to sever the chain of infections as well as to quell the harm caused by the third wave of the pandemic.

“In consideration of protecting the national economy as well as the welfare and livelihoods of the rakyat... certain key measures to flatten the curve can be restarted until a vaccine for the coronavirus has been successfully developed and can be used safely,” he said in a statement Tuesday (Oct 6).

Chong called on the National Security Council to adopt several measures in the coming two weeks, one of which was to make it mandatory for those arriving in Peninsular Malaysia or other parts of the country from Sabah or other high-risk areas to undergo mandatory quarantine at a designated centre and not at home.

“With the exception of (getting) essential needs, any inter-state travel should be banned unless the individual applies for an approval letter from the police.

“Prohibit all types of functions where more than 50 people may gather to reduce the risk of group infections,” he said.

Chong noted that the public and private sector should allow employees to work from home to lessen the need to travel and lower the risk of infections.

The government, he said, needs to take urgent action to prevent the virus from spreading wider.

“Identifying confirmed cases through mandatory quarantine can prevent Covid-19 from reaching a larger population.

“Otherwise, our country’s healthcare system will come under tremendous pressure and may even collapse in the wake of treating the massive number of patients,” he added.

He also called on Malaysians residing in the country to exercise vigilance and undertake the role of frontliners.

“Refrain from going out as much as possible. Stay home. Leave your home only if it is necessary and even then, stringently abide by the standard operating procedures established by the authorities.

“Treat it as if the MCO is still enforced. Only when we help take care of each other, will we be able to control the third wave of the pandemic, failing which, all our past efforts will be in vain,” he added. - Star