The Conditional Movement Control Order (CMCO) in Sarawak, scheduled to end on March 1, will be extended for another two weeks, said Senior Minister (Security Cluster) Ismail Sabri Yaakob.

He said the decision was made due to the spike in cases throughout the state where a total of 2,623 cases were recorded between Feb 12 and Feb 25.

"After conducting a risk assessment with various agencies in the MCO (Movement Control Order) technical committee, the government has agreed to extend the CMCO throughout Sarawak from March 2 to March 15," he said in a statement on the development of the MCO today.

He said the enhanced movement control order (EMCO) implemented at a correctional centre in Batu Gajah, Perak, and its staff quarters would also be extended from Feb 28 to March 13.

He said the EMCO would also be enforced in Kampung Sinsingon and Kampung Lotong in Nabawan, Sabah from Feb 27 to March 12 due to the increase in the number of cases of Covid-19 in the areas, noting that a total of 42 positive Covid-19 cases have been recorded in these two localities.

The EMCO would also be implemented in the Sentosa Timur Fasa 2 settlement in Sibu, for two weeks from Feb 27, he added.

“So far, a total of 59 cases have been recorded involving this locality and the Ministry of Health (MOH) has confirmed a sharp increase in cases with high infectivity,” he said adding that the EMCO would allow MOH to conduct screenings on the nearly 2,500 residents to curb the spread of COVID-19 infection in the community.

Meanwhile, Ismail Sabri said yesterday a total of 320 individuals were compounded while six individuals were remanded for violating the standard operating procedures of the MCO.

Failure to provide proper equipment or entry log at business premises was the highest offence at 106, followed by failure to wear face masks (77) and failure to observe physical distancing (43), he said.

- Bernama