M’sia may be facing fourth wave

PETALING JAYA: People must continue to observe standard operating procedure (SOP) to guard against Covid-19 infections, especially during the Ramadan month, as recent data shows that Malaysia may be entering the fourth wave, says Senior Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob.

He said the rate of infection or Rt as at April 11 was at 1.06, with the highest being recorded in Terengganu at 1.56.

“Our daily numbers are in the four digits and above 1,000, we cannot say that we are out of danger, ” he added.

He said global numbers were also fluctuating with more than 136 million cases recorded and 2.9 million deaths, adding that most infections came from communities and clusters.

The emergence of new variants has also contributed to the fluctuating number of cases worldwide, and data from the World Health Organisation shows that India is worst hit with more than 152,000 cases recorded a day.

“This Ramadan, we have decided to allow congregational terawih prayers at mosques, unlike last year.

“But numbers also show that we cannot be negligent because the Covid-19 virus is not about to go on holiday, ” he said yesterday.

He also said the conditional movement control order (MCO) would be imposed in six states while recovery MCO would be imposed in another 10 states.

The six under conditional MCO are Selangor, Kuala Lumpur, Johor, Penang, Kelantan and Sarawak. States under recovery MCO are Perlis, Kedah, Perak, Melaka, Negri Sembilan, Pahang, Terengganu, Sabah, Putrajaya and Labuan.

Conditional and recovery MCO period would be from April 15-28 except in Sarawak where it would start from tomorrow (today) until April 26, he said.

He also said the interstate travel ban would remain except for tourism activities between states under recovery MCO through the green travel bubbles.

Inter-district travel is allowed except in Sabah and Sarawak in accordance with the SOP set by the respective state governments.

Ismail Sabri said eateries would be allowed to operate beyond midnight to allow those fasting to buy food for sahur (pre-dawn meal) during Ramadan.