Sabah and Sarawak villages placed under EMCO

PUTRAJAYA: Two localities, one each in Sabah and Sarawak, have been placed under an enhanced movement control order beginning today after there was a surge in Covid-19 cases in the areas.

Kampung Emperoh Jambu in Padawan, Kuching division, saw 60 positive cases among its residents while Kampung Tanah Merah in Kota Marudu, Sabah, saw 57 individuals test positive for the coronavirus.

A total of 226 people were screened in Kampung Tanah Merah.

Senior Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob said that health authorities had confirmed there was a sudden spike in the number of cases in the two localities.

He said a risk assessment was carried out and the government agreed to place both localities under the enhanced MCO for 14 days until March 8.

“While under lockdown, health authorities will carry out swab tests on 545 residents of Kampung Tanah Merah and on 1,215 villagers residing in Kampung Emperoh Jambu, ” he said yesterday.