The National Security Council (NSC) has decided that the existing ban on interstate travel between areas under movement control order (MCO) and conditional MCO will remain in effect until May 17.
This affects the following states and territories: Kelantan, Sarawak, Sabah, Selangor, Kuala Lumpur, Johor and Penang.
This means those who want to travel between these areas for the Hari Raya Aidilfitri festivities will not be able to do so. No change was announced for the existing exception that allows for travel between Selangor and Kuala Lumpur.
The first day of Hari Raya Aidilfitri is expected to fall on May 13.
In a televised press conference this evening, Defence Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob said interstate travel will be allowed for those travelling between recovery MCO states and territories.
These are: Perlis, Kedah (except Kuala Muda district which is under conditional MCO), Perak, Malacca, Negeri Sembilan (except Seremban district which is under conditional MCO), Pahang, Terengganu, Putrajaya and Labuan.
“Just like the standard operating procedure (SOP) announced before this, it remains the same now.
“Interstate travel is still not allowed except for tourism activities from a recovery MCO state to another recovery MCO state using the green travel bubble concept using tourism agencies and agents that are registered with the Tourism Ministry.
“Interdistrict travel is allowed [...] except in Sabah and Sarawak, based on the decision made by their respective governments,” he said.
On the reason for the NSC’s decision, Ismail said the Health Ministry assessed that Covid-19 case trends were “unstable” in many states.
Infectivity rates (measured using R-naught or R0) had also risen above 1.0 since 20 days ago.
A rate above 1.0 implies an outbreak is increasing.
“Besides that, based on its Covid-19 case monitoring (report), the ministry confirmed that the number of cases from social and education-related clusters has been on the rise in the past two weeks,” the minister said.
Raya SOP soon
Meanwhile, Ismail Sabri said that Hari Raya Aidilfitri SOPs would be announced soon.
“Last week I promised to announce the Hari Raya Aidilfitri SOPs.
“I would like to inform (you) that the Islamic Development Department (Jakim) is still finalising the SOPs with the Health Ministry and the NSC.
“God-willing it will be done and we will announce it as soon as possible,” he said.
He added that the SOPs will include rules on prayers and house visiting. - Mkini
No comments:
Post a Comment
Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.