Covid under control – Malaysian PM

KUALA LUMPUR: Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin said on Sunday that the coronavirus pandemic is under control as the government eased restrictive measures to allow the resumption of social, education, and commercial activities.

Muhyiddin said that the restrictions would be further relaxed from June 10 to give the public greater freedom.

Malaysia has been under restrictions since March 18 to contain the crisis, with a relaxed version being implemented since May 4, which is scheduled to end on June 9.

Since the implementation of the restrictions, the infection rate has declined, with data suggesting that the local transmission among Malaysians is going down and under control, said Muhyiddin. He added that most new cases were imported ones or from the illegal migrants held at the immigration detention facilities.

“This shows that Malaysia has successfully controlled the spread of Covid-19 and now is entering the recovery phase,” he said.

Under the recovery phase, interstate travel and domestic tourism will be allowed, and nearly all social, educational, religious activities, and commercial and economic businesses can resume.

Schools will reopen in stages, with the Health Ministry and Education Ministry working out details on the resumption of classes.

However, pubs, night clubs, entertainment centers, theme parks, massage parlors as well as sporting events and other large-scale activities will remain prohibited. Sporting activities involving physical contacts like football are still not allowed.

Border controls remain in place. Malaysia has banned citizens from leaving the country and foreign visitors are not allowed since the implementation of the movement control order.

The new measures will be in place until Aug. 31.

The prime minister said the government will focus on seven key thrusts, including strengthening public health, border security, law enforcement, implementing the “new normal” culture, community responsibility, protecting vulnerable groups and fully opening the economy.

Muhyiddin emphasized the importance of complying with rules for the public’s safety, warning that the government would not hesitate to reimpose strict measures should the number of new cases spike.