KUALA LUMPUR: A two-week Movement Control Order (MCO) will be implemented in Lahad Datu, Sabah following an exponential spike in Covid-19 cases in the district.
Senior Minister (Security Cluster) Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob said the MCO will commence tomorrow (April 11) till April 24.
"Health Ministry informed that a total of 103 Covid-19 positive cases recorded in the district over the past two weeks while 49 samples are still pending results.
"Health Ministry also confirmed that there is an exponential spike in cases with high infectivity rate in Lahad Datu.
"After a risk assessment done with several agencies during the technical committee meeting and the Health Ministry's advice, the government has agreed to implement MCO at Lahad Datu district, Sabah, from April 11 to Apr 24," he said in a statement today.
He added that the MCO would be able to control the infectivity rare and contain the coronavirus within Lahad Datu.
Meanwhile, three localities in Sarawak and two communities in Sabah will be placed under the Enhanced Movement Control Order (EMCO) from April 11 to April 24.
In Sarawak, they comprise nine longhouses, namely Rumah Panjang Subing anak Jabo/Stevenson anak Ebek, Rumah Panjang Dingun anak Tidih, Rumah Panjang Nyaun anak Ganai, Rumah Panjang anak Tangkun, Rumah Panjang Budin anak Majang/Migi anak Kadong, Rumah Panjang Kinseng anak Jelian, Rumah Panjang Muda anak Lunjang, Rumah Panjang Ambo anak Ayom and Rumah Jiram anak Tang in Sungai Duan; Mukah Polytechnic; and Kampung Menuang Baru, Limbang.
In Sabah, EMCO has been imposed in Kampung Muhibbah Raya, Tawau, and Kampung Bukit Belacon in Segama subzone, Lahad Datu.
Ismail Sabri said EMCO would be enforced at these five localities after Health Ministry confirmed that there was a spike in cases with high infectivity rate.
He said the EMCO would help to restrict the movement of the residents and to prevent the virus from spreading to other localities.
As of April 9, there are 23 positive cases recorded at Sungai Duan longhouses.
"For Mukah Polytechnic, out of 72 samples taken, 13 were tested positive for Covid-19 to date.
"Health Ministry informed that the infectivity rate is high because all students and workers move freely in the campus," he said.
He said as for Kampung Menuang Baru, Limbang, currently, 165 individuals have been tested and 10 were found infected with the virus.
A total of 113 individuals were screened at Kampung Muhibbah Raya, Tawau, of which 30 positive reported thus far.
Cumulatively, 26 positive cases reported in Kampung Bukit Belacon, Segama subzone, Lahad Datu.
Meanwhile, Ismail Sabri said the EMCO at Pusat Jagaan Rohaniah, Sekolah Integrasi Ikhwan, in Pasir Puteh, Kelantan, was lifted today.
"Cases are reducing in the locality with the latest confirmed Covid-19 cases, two cases, reported on April 6.
"To date, Health Ministry had screened 123 individuals where 29 were positive cases. All positive cases had received treatment while the close contacts were isolated and under surveillance.
"As such, the government has agreed to end the EMCO at Pusat Jagaan Rohaniah, Sekolah Integrasi Ikhwan, in Pasir Puteh, Kelantan, a day earlier than the scheduled April 11," he said.