KOTA KINABALU: It is too early to gauge the effectiveness of the two-week Movement Control Order (MCO) in the state.
Sabah Covid-19 spokesperson Datuk Seri Masidi Manjun said that as the MCO entered the eighth day today, he hoped that it would help to flatten the curve of Covid-19 infection in the state.
Since last week, the state Covid-19 statistics reported a three-digit number ranging between 300 and 500 cases every day.
"Based on our survey, the increased number of infections recently is most likely due to the non-compliance of standard operating procedures (SOP) that happened towards the end of 2020.
"This is reflected from the SOP compliance statistics that I have been sharing on several occasions that showed they had been low among the people," he said during the virtual press conference here, adding more accurate analysis on MCO effectiveness should be done after Jan 26.
Masidi, who is also state Local Government and Housing minister, attributed the high number of cases to the Social Security Organisation (SOCSO) mass screening for factory workers especially in the east coast of the state.
On whether there is too much relaxation by allowing more economic activities, he said the infections could be prevented should the workplaces impose strict SOP.
"As compared to the previous MCO which had to close all (non-essential) businesses, we cannot afford to close them now as we have to find balance (between lives and livelihood).
"Economic activities are allowed to operate on the assumption of strict compliance of the SOP. But once we start to lax, the infection (numbers) will rise," he added.
On requests from hair salons to operate with strict SOP, Masidi said such activities were still deemed as risky and could not be allowed for the time being.
Sabah Progressive Party had earlier revealed that some hairdressers had resort to offering home services to stay afloat.
Such activities have raised concerns that contact tracing will be difficult as compared to being done at salons where both clients and barbers are required to follow SOP.
Today, Sabah recorded 406 Covid-19 cases with three deaths.