Only 17 sectors can operate

Fielding the press: Ismail (left) speaking during the joint media conference with Dr Noor Hisham at the Perdana Putra building in Putrajaya. — Bernama

PETALING JAYA: The two-week lockdown from June 1-14 is necessary to ensure that the country’s medical facilities will not end up paralysed if Covid-19 cases continue to rise, says Senior Minister (Security) Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob.

The ban on all non-essential social and economic activities was necessary following the sharp increase in daily Covid-19 infections recently, whereby new cases breached the 9,000 mark on Saturday, he said.