Permit-less wedding feasts blamed for increase in Kelantan Covid cases

The holding of wedding feasts without a police permit and non-compliance with SOPs, including by guests, are among the reasons for the rise in Covid-19 cases in Kelantan, authorities say.

State Housing, Local Government and Health Committee chairman Izani Husin said the negligence and lackadaisical attitudes also resulted in new clusters emerging while cases had been increasing since a few days ago, despite the state previously experiencing a drop in numbers.

“Perhaps the public chose to take it easy on the SOPs following the decline in number of cases,” he told reporters after an event in Kota Bharu today.

Izani said there were also Covid-19 outbreaks due to teachers getting infected when attending a wedding feast and then spreading the virus to others.

Kelantan deputy police chief Abdullah Muhammad Piah, who was also present, said police would intensify enforcement through monitoring all wedding ceremonies in the state, and would issue compounds of RM1,500 up to RM10,000 to those who fail to get a permit and adhere to the SOPs.

“Many feasts have been held without a permit. From today, the state police will tighten enforcement of the SOPs and intensify monitoring at all wedding ceremonies regardless of whether the organisers have applied for a permit or not,” he added.