Tourism still allowed under 'strict SOP' as RMCO extended to Mar 31

 

Tourism activities will continue to be allowed under strict standard operating procedures (SOPs), as the recovery movement control order (MCO) is extended to March 31, said Defence Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob.

The extension gazette was published in the early hours of the new year.

In a statement today, Ismail said certain activities are still not allowed in recovery MCO areas, including those at pubs and nightclubs - except those operating as restaurants.

He also said any activities that involve large crowds where physical distancing is difficult are also barred.

He said extending the recovery MCO was necessary due to the rise in Covid-19 cases - which he said was in part due to mass-screening of migrant workers, as well as community infections in the Klang Valley and other states.

Yesterday, the country ended 2020 with 2,525 new infections - the highest on record yet.

The recovery MCO is in effect in Perlis, Terengganu, Pahang, Malacca, Sarawak, Putrajaya, Labuan, Kedah, and Kelantan.

It is also in effect in certain districts of Penang, Perak, Negeri Sembilan, Johor, and Selangor.

Previously, the government had extended the conditional MCO in several places to Jan 14. The rules are stricter than the recovery MCO and apply to areas with a higher number of Covid-19 cases.

This includes the entirety of Kuala Lumpur and Sabah, as well as certain parts of Selangor, Penang, Perak, Negeri Sembilan, and Johor.

Meanwhile, Ismail also announced the implementation of enhanced MCO on the Westlite 1 and 2 workers dormitories in Senai, Johor, after 20 cases of Covid-19 were detected there.

The Kejora Juara workers dormitories in Bukit Pasir, Muar, Johor is also under enhanced MCO. There have been 212 cases of Covid-19 there as of Dec 31.

Both enhanced MCOs will be in effect from Jan 2 to 15.

The enhanced MCO at the Ria Apartment in Genting Highlands, meanwhile, has been lifted early today after all the residents were screened and only two positive cases were detected. - Mkini