Rise in infections called for stricter measures, says PM

 

Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin said the CMCO decision was made at a special meeting of the National Security Council. (Bernama pic)

KUALA LUMPUR: The decision to enforce a partial lockdown under the conditional movement control order (CMCO) in most of the peninsula was made because a stricter and bolder approach has to be taken before the situation becomes worse, said Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin.

He said the spike in Covid-19 cases had caused concern and anxiety among the people and the country could no longer remain under the recovery MCO.

“The special meeting of the National Security Council (MKN) decided to implement the CMCO in all states in the peninsula, except for Perlis, Kelantan and Pahang. Certain localities which have recorded very high Covid-19 cases will be placed under the enhanced movement control order,” he said in a posting on his Facebook page today.

Muhyiddin said the ban on interstate travel also had to be implemented to reduce public movement and social activities in a bid to break the chain of Covid-19 infections.

He said the Sarawak government had applied for more beds for intensive care wards and increased capacity for Covid-19 screening tests at government hospitals.

Penang is one of nine states and the federal territory where the CMCO is being enforced. Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow said in George Town earlier today that the CMCO from Nov 9 to Dec 6 is crucial to ensure the country’s economic stability and public health in the long-term.

He said the state government planned to hold academic discussions to identify more effective methods in combating the growing number of Covid-19 cases in the state.

A meeting of government agencies will be held on Monday on preparations for the CMCO implementation, he said. - FMT