MCO in Tawau, EMCO in 3 localities in Sabah, Sarawak

KUALA LUMPUR: The Movement Control Order (MCO) will be enforced for the Tawau district in Sabah for two weeks, starting today.

Senior Minister (Security Cluster) Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob said several Covid-19 clusters with a high infectivity rate were detected in the district. So far, 137 active cases were reported in the district to date.

“The MCO will facilitate the Health Ministry to conduct targeted screening at localities that reported positive cases and regulate residents’ movement to stem the virus transmission in the community,” he said in a statement yesterday.

The government, he said, also agreed to impose an Enhanced Movement Control Order (EMCO) at Perumahan Kilang Sungai Tenegang in Kinabatangan, also in Sabah.

So far, the ministry conducted 290 screening tests and 33 individuals tested positive for Covid19 there.

“The ministry also confirmed that a drastic spike in cases has occurred in the past week with a high infectivity rate in the community,” he said, referring to the same area.

The EMCO will also be implemented at two localities in Sarawak, namely Kampung Baji in Sarikei and Sungai Rassau, Batang Igan, at Matu district in the Mukah division, starting today until April 16.

For Kampung Baji, Ismail Sabri said the Health Ministry confirmed there was a drastic rise in infections in the last five days.

Up to March 31, 20 positive cases have been recorded in this locality.

Meanwhile, in Sungai Rassau, seven out of 43 individuals screened have tested positive for the virus up to March 30.

He said since the locality had seen a sharp spike in new cases this week, the EMCO would allow early detection of suspected Covid-19 cases to stem the tide of infection in the community.

On a separate matter, Ismail Sabri said 100 people were arrested on Thursday for violating the standard operating procedures (SOP) of the MCO.

Most of the offenders failed to comply with physical distancing (89), followed by attempts to make inter-district/interstate travel without permission (10) and other offences (one).

Out of the 100 arrests, 91 people were issued with compounds while nine others were remanded.

“A total of 3,537 compliance teams, comprising 15,854 personnel, carried out inspections at 4,619 restaurants, 6,134 supermarkets, 2,364 factories, 3,975 banks, 1,035 government offices and 3,065 hawkers.

“They inspected 2,071 markets, 3,448 places of worship, 1,754 recreational spots, 1,555 land transport terminals, 394 water transport terminals and 119 air transport terminals,” he said in a statement yesterday.

Ismail Sabri said 60 foreigners were caught entering the country illegally while 10 boats and ships, together with a land vehicle, were seized under Op Benteng.

The authorities detected 90 boats and ships in the country’s waters through eight sightings as well as chased 11 illegal entrants in two raids.

A total of 259 roadblocks were mounted nationwide on Thursday.