Selangor MB wants state economy to remain closed during EMCO

 

The Selangor state government has urged for the economic activities in areas under the enhanced movement control order (EMCO) in the state to remain closed during the order's two-week period.

This is unless its operations during the EMCO period are absolutely necessary, the state’s Menteri Besar Amirudin Shari said.

He said he had raised the matter during the National Security Council (NSC) meeting yesterday.

“The state government views the enhanced MCO’s goal of breaking the pandemic’s chain of transmission as yet to be achieved.

“Hence, the state government proposed for the NSC’s consideration that only economic sectors that are absolutely essential should remain open,” he said in a Facebook post last night.

Amirudin said the state government has proposed expediting the vaccination of workers. The vaccination rate should be a factor for considering the reopening of the economy, he said.

His statement comes as Selangor was hit with a record-high of 4,152 Covid-19 cases yesterday, as well as 63 deaths.

Amirudin said among the reasons for the high number of cases is increased testing in areas under enhanced MCO, as well as contact tracing being down in these areas.

34 Selangor subdistricts under the EMCO

There are 34 subdistricts in Selangor that are under the enhanced MCO from July 3 until July 16, where only certain economic sectors are allowed to operate.

These are economic sectors deemed to be essential services and their supply chains, such as water, electricity and energy services, health, banking, security and safety, transport, communications and e-commerce.

Manufacturers of certain dried food, bottled water and health and personal care products are also allowed to operate.

However, beginning July 7, the International Trade and Industry Ministry allowed additional sectors to operate.

These include the electrical and electronics sector and its supply chains, aerospace sector, machinery and equipment sector for the production of healthcare and food products, as well as more food and beverage manufacturing companies.

The factories allowed to operate are required to take certain precautions, such as testing their entire workforce for Covid-19 twice a week. The wearing of tracking devices is also endorsed. - Mkini