Health DG says 5 new clusters were found yesterday, 2 in Sabah, 1 in KL, 1 in Sarawak and 1 in Labuan

by NUR HAZIQAH A MALEK / pic by RAZAK GHAZALI

THIRTY-SIX areas in Klang have been identified to undergo the Conditional Movement Control Order (CMCO).

After much confusion which almost led to panic among residents and people working in Klang, Selangor Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Amirudin Shari (picture) yesterday evening released a list of the affected areas.

In his daily media briefing yesterday, Senior Minister (Security Cluster) Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob said to ensure economic activities and supply of essentials and food are not affected, operations for wholesale markets are to open from 4am to 2pm, regular markets from 6am to 2pm, farmers’ market from 6am to 12pm, while night markets are not permitted.

Food outlets may only operate from 6am to 10pm and only for drive-through, delivery and takeaway options.

“A more detailed list of economic activities will be announced by the International Trade and Industry Ministry soon,” he said.

Meanwhile, there will be new standard operating procedures (SOPs) for prisoner management, as well as accepting of convicts and bringing convicts to court.

Yesterday, 420 individuals were detained for breaching Recovery MCO’s (RMCO) SOPs, out of which 380 were compounded, 39 remanded and one granted bail.

“Offences included not practising physical distancing (145), not wearing face masks (117), failing to record entry and exit (96), activities at entertainment outlets (26) and leaving their homes within the enforced MCO areas without valid reasons (26),” he said.

Other violations included premises exceeding permitted operating hours, working without permit and hiring foreigners without a legal permit.

The task force conducted inspections at 3,447 supermarkets, 4,393 restaurants, 1,501 hawkers and 2,454 farmers’ markets, in addition to 3,134 worship places and 1,253 leisure spots.

Through Ops Benteng, 31 undocumented migrants and one smuggler were arrested, and 11 vehicles were confiscated.

On mandatory quarantine, 43,968 individuals returned from overseas between July 24 and Oct 7.

“Some 10,302 returnees are quarantined at 68 hotels and 15 premises, including public training institutes and private institutions nationwide.

“Some 106 individuals were taken to hospitals for treatment, while 33,560 individuals were allowed to go home,” Ismail Sabri said.

On the issue of fake news, 270 investigation papers were opened yesterday.

Some 133 cases are still under investigations, 35 have been brought to court, 19 admitted guilt and 12 were given warning notices, while 384 denials and explanations of fake news have been clarified to the public.

If there are any doubts on the validity of news, the public should contact 03-8911 5103 or check on sebenarnya.my.

The Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Ministry had also conducted 1,866 compliance inspections and found that 1,821 premises complied with the SOPs, while 44 premises were given advice and one premise was warned.

Meanwhile, Malaysia recorded 375 new Covid-19 positive cases as of yesterday, where 371 were local transmissions.

Eighteen were from the Tembok, Benteng Lahad Datu (LD) and Reman Prison Clusters, 50 from other clusters and 303 within the community, on top of four imported cases.

This has brought the country’s overall total to 14,368 cases, with 3,703 active cases.

The four import cases were from Belgium and India with two cases each.

Health DG Tan Sri Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah said five new clusters were found yesterday, namely Tujuh Serangkai and Tanamera Clusters in Sabah, Jalan Pantai Cluster in Kuala Lumpur (KL), Bah Arnah in Sarawak and Bah Bangat in Labuan.

“On top of these, existing clusters have also recorded new cases, namely 14 in Tembok, Jalan Meru (12), Ramai-Ramai (6), Laut (5), Benteng LD (3), Bah Puchong (2), and one each for Bah Sintok, Selasih and Reman Prison,” he said.

Currently, 60 positive cases are undergoing treatment in the intensive care unit, with 20 patients on ventilators.

“We were sadly informed that there was an increase of five deaths due to Covid-19.

“This brought the country’s death rate to 146 cases (1.02%),” he said.

The fatality cases were four men aged 55 and above, and a woman aged 75.

In addition, 18 patients have fully recovered, adding to the cumulative total of recovery to 10,519 (73.9%).