The government will consider whether to tighten enforcement of the movement control order tomorrow, once it obtains the latest figures on the compliance rate.
This comes as compliance on the first day of the order was found to be only at 60 percent.
“Yesterday, 40 percent were non-compliant. For today, we will be told tomorrow how many percent are compliant. If people are still stubborn and the rate does not decrease, we must take stern action through existing laws.
“They may be arrested. They may be fined up to RM1,000, put in prison for up to six months, or both,” Health Minister Dr Adham Baba (photo) said in an interview on TV1 today.
‘Total lockdown’ possible if outbreak worsens
At another interview programme later, the minister said Malaysia might need a “total lockdown” akin to what was imposed in Wuhan, China should Covid-19 cases spike.
“China did not develop any vaccines (to combat the virus) but what they did was a total lockdown. Meaning its citizens in several districts could not leave the house [...]
“We should do that. But we must first raise awareness and contain the virus as much as we can,” he said.
He emphasised the need to flatten the curve of infection and said all measures must be considered.
“Looking at our data, I think the curve is starting to flatten. If it continues to be 100, 100, 100 new cases (each day); that means it has flattened.
“But if it rises from 100 to 200, 300 and 400 cases, that is called a spike. That is dangerous because that means there are many new clusters and we are no longer able to contain the virus,” Adham forewarned.
“I speak from the heart when I say we must break the chain of infection however we can,” he added.
Malaysia registered 110 new Covid-19 infections today, bringing the total to 900 cases.
This is the fifth straight day the nation has seen more than a hundred new cases in a single day.
Since March 15, cases have increased by 190; 125; 120; 117; and 110 today. - Mkini
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