KUALA LUMPUR, 29 April2020:
Household heads who go out to buy food and other daily necessities during the Movement Control Order (MCO) phase 4 period can now be accompanied by one family member staying in the same house.
According to the latest federal gazette under the Prevention and Control of Infectious Diseases (Measures within Infected Local Areas) (No. 4) Regulations 2020 published in the Attorney General’s Chambers website yesterday, the conditions for movement in seeking healthcare or medical services also allow the person to be accompanied by any other person deemed to be reasonably necessary.
The gazette signed by Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Adham Baba stated that the Regulation is effective for the period from April 29 until May 12.
The list of essential services in the updated Regulations remain the same at 15 items.
A restriction on movement within 10km radius for daily necessities such as food, medicine and dietary supplements as well as to seek healthcare and medical service still remains.
Previously, only the household head was allowed to go out to buy food and daily essential items. Permission for the movement is now also allowed for the purpose of buying daily essentials or to seek healthcare or medical services outside a 10km radius if the items or services are not available within 10km of the individual’s home.
Senior Minister (Security Cluster) Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob said several more leeways made to the current MCO will be announced soon.
“Let it be the first and last,” said Yazid Naim with a sigh in reference to the Enhanced Movement Control Order (EMCO) over Covid-19 in Simpang Renggam near here that was lifted at midnight.
Joy and relief were written all over the face of the 45-year-old resident of Kampung Dato’ Ibrahim Majid, one of the villages that came under the EMCO on March 27.
Along with the village, Bandar Baru Dato’ Ibrahim Majid and several other villages in Simpang Renggam were also placed under the EMCO after 61 residents were found to have been infected by Covid-19, the coronavirus disease now ravaging the world.
“During the 30 days, I was just cooped up in my house. I was unable to carry out my daily chores. Everything had to be postponed,” Yazid said, sharing the general feeling of fellow residents as well.
With the EMCO lifted, these areas revert to the MCO which is into its fourth two-week phase from today to May 12 across the country.
Yazid said the EMCO had its good points as well. We were able to observe how people from various quarters collaborated and cooperated with one another to help us. They worked hard to free us from the EMCO,” he said, expressing gratitude to all the healthcare personnel and others.
Another resident, Fadhil Abdullah, 52, said he was unable to operate his retail shop in Kampung Dato’ Ibrahim Majid during the EMCO.
Now that the EMCO is over, he is considering reopening the shop as it is the only source of income for his family.
“I hope life will return to near-normal again for us because under the MCO there is some flexibility. I am happy that the EMCO has ended,” said an overjoyed Fadhil.
– Bernama