MCO extended 2 weeks to Feb 18

The movement control order (MCO) imposed across most of the country to curb the spread of Covid-19 will be extended another two weeks until Feb 18.

However, Sarawak will remain under conditional MCO.

Senior Minister for Security Ismail Sabri Yaakob, who made the announcement today, said the decision was based on risk assessments and the advice of the health ministry as daily cases in all states still show an upward trend, with positivity rate in clusters at between 20% and 40%.

“Sporadic transmission within the community is also high, involving citizens as well as non-citizens,” he said.

He said interstate travel and social activities will remain off limits, while the Attorney-General’s Chambers is working out higher fines for the breach of MCO SOPs which will be announced soon.

Meanwhile, stricter SOPs will be implemented, including limits on the number of people allowed to enter supermarkets in order to prevent mass gatherings.

The MCO, known as MCO 2.0, was implemented in six states on Jan 13. It was later extended to cover the entire country with the exception of Sarawak which remained under CMCO with the exception of certain districts.