Enhanced MCO for firms that flout SOPs and have virus outbreaks

CORONAVIRUS | Health Ministry director-general Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah has cautioned businesses to abide by SOPs or risk being placed under lockdown should a Covid-19 outbreak occur.

“They must abide by the SOPs that the ministry has set. If they do not, we will take action.

“Let’s say there is an outbreak in an area or locality, we will place it under an enhanced movement control order (MCO) - meaning we will shut down the area and conduct screenings.

“We will separate those who test positive, and quarantine those who are close contacts,” he said during his daily Covid-19 briefing.

Noor Hisham added that surveillance and enforcement for each sector and area will be conducted by the relevant authorities along with the ministry.

He said this when asked about the ministry’s action plan under the conditional MCO, which comes into effect this Monday (May 4).

Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin announced earlier today that the new rules were to facilitate the reopening of the economy.

In general, the SOPs require businesses to practise social distancing of at least one metre, screen employees' health, enforce good hand hygiene and sanitise business premises twice a day.

The recovery phase

The top official added that the ministry had drawn up these SOPs after engagements with stakeholders in each economic sector.

Also, he said the ministry was in support of relaxing the rules as the country is now in the recovery phase of the outbreak.

Healthcare facilities, too, managed to keep infections under control after as daily reports of new cases fall from triple-digit figures to double-digits.

As of noon today, Malaysia recorded 69 new Covid-19 cases, bringing the total to 6,071.

Of the cumulative total, 4,210 patients (69.3 percent) have recovered and have been discharged.

Of the remaining 1,758 active cases, 37 are being treated in the intensive care unit. Fourteen of the ICU cases presently need ventilators.

Noor Hisham announced one new death today, bringing the total number of Covid-19 deaths to 103. - Mkini