EMCO PROPOSED FOR SUBDISTRICT 13
It is linked to the Intan cluster, says Penang CM
FOUR subdistricts i n Penang have been declared as red zones after reporting more than 40 Covid-19 cases. The Penang Remand Prison in the George Town Subdistrict here and the Seberang Prai Prison in Jawi in Subdistrict 6 had been placed under the Enhanced Movement Control Order (EMCO), which was expected to end tomorrow and on Nov 18, respectively.
Subdistrict 12 in the Southwest District, linked to the Bayan cluster, had also been placed under the Conditional Movement Control Order (CMCO) on Friday.
The latest Penang subdistrict to be declared a red zone was Subdistrict 13 in the Northeast District, which was linked to the Intan cluster.
All states i n Peninsular Malaysia, except for Perlis, Pahang and Kelantan, were placed under the CMCO yesterday.
Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow said at yesterday’s state Special Security Committee meeting that the state Health Department had proposed the EMCO be imposed on Subdistrict 13.
“This is aimed at preventing the spread of cases linked to the Intan cluster,” he said.
“The state Health Department had asked for continuous monitoring to be carried out and to consider the need for the EMCO to focus only on a specific locality in Subdistrict 13.”
He said the state Health Department reported that there were seven active Covid-19 clus
ters in the state.
Besides the Penang Remand Prison, Jawi Prison, Bayan and Intan clusters, the other clusters were the Tembaga, Permatang and Alma clusters.
He said the state Health Department had proposed that the
EMCO at the Penang Remand Prison and the prison quarters be discontinued as scheduled, subject to the standard operating procedures (SOP) put in place.
He said the state Health Department proposed that the EMCO for the Seberang Prai Prison and the prison quarters be extended.
“The state National Security Council (NSC) will present these proposals to the NSC at the federal level for further consideration.”
He said the state NSC had been requested by the state Special Security Committee to present an appeal to allow private daycare centres to operate during the CMCO as parents needed to go to work.
He said for religious activities, the state Islamic Affairs Department and state administration would fix and finalise the SOP, especially for the Deepavali celebrations.
“During today’s (yesterday) meeting, the state police chief also said 31 roadblocks has been set up in the state throughout the CMCO, involving 1,294 personnel from the police, army, Civil Defence and People’s Volunteer Corps.
“All of us need to work together as a team to curb the spread of Covid-19 in the country and in Penang, more so as the virus has entered our community.”