Current MCO in Sarawak similar to nationwide lockdown during March 2020

KUCHING: The movement control order in Sarawak which began on Saturday (May 29) is very similar to the first MCO implemented last year at the start of the Covid-19 pandemic.

State Local Government and Housing Minister Datuk Seri Dr Sim Kui Hian, who oversees public health, said the purpose of the two-week MCO was to break the transmission of Covid-19 by getting as many people as possible to stay at home.

"From now on until June 11, people can leave home only for essential activities like buying food and medicine or to go for their vaccination.

"No hair cuts, jogging, cycling, dine-in or window shopping and no social, family or religious gatherings.

"We will be able to see the impact of this only after 14 days," he said when contacted on Saturday (May 29).

According to the standard operating procedures (SOP), all economic sectors are not allowed to operate during the MCO in Sarawak except those listed as essential services.

For the private sector, those allowed to open can have only 30% of their manpower present.

No one is allowed out in public places between 10pm and 5am, while children under 12 years are not allowed to go to crowded and public areas without a reasonable excuse.

Sarawak's MCO comes into effect several days earlier than the total lockdown announced by Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin, which will take place from June 1 to 14.

Dr Sim also said Sarawak would ramp up its Covid-19 vaccination programme following the assurance from Khairy Jamaluddin that more vaccines would be delivered to the state starting next month.

The National Covid-19 Immunisation Programme coordinating minister said on Friday (May 28) that 380,000 vaccine doses would be delivered weekly from the first week of June.

According to Dr Sim, this is nearly equivalent to two months' supply of vaccines received in April and May.

"Currently, 1.198 million Sarawakians have registered for vaccination, of which about 178,000 have received their first dose.

"Now that more vaccines are coming, those remaining who have registered should be able to get their first dose soon," he said.