Malaysia's EMCO update: Ipoh, Perak, Sandakan, Lahad Datu, Negeri Sembilan, Klang, and Kota Kinabalu

In a daily press conference on the Recovery Movement Control Order (RMCO) development, Senior Minister (Security Cluster) Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob announced that five more areas in Ipoh, as well as in Sandakan and Lahad Datu, Sabah, will be placed under the Enhanced Movement Control Order (EMCO), Bernama reported.

These decisions were made based on the risk assessment by Malaysia's Ministry of Health (MOH).

EMCO enforced in Zone A, Taman Klebang Jaya and Taman Pinji Mewah, Ipoh till 14 December

In Ipoh, the EMCO would be enforced at Zone A, Taman Klebang Jaya and Taman Pinji Mewah until 14 December 2020, following a spike in COVID-19 cases involving workers at the Kamaya and Salutica factories.

The enforcement of EMCO involves 1,061 houses and 4,244 residents in Zone A, Taman Klebang Jaya, and 1,430 houses, 44 units of shop/office and 5,720 residents in Taman Pinji Mewah.

Elaborating on how the infection was spreading at the workers; residential areas, he said: "So far, all 1,402 workers of Kamaya Factory have been screened and the cumulative positive cases stood at 228, of which 110 cases involved workers staying in Zone A, Taman Klebang Jaya, Ipoh.

“Meanwhile, from 737 Salutica Factory workers screened, 119 were tested positive and 618 others are awaiting results. Of the positive cases, 89 cases involved workers who are staying in Taman Pinji Mewah."

Kampung Desa Bajau and Kampung Dasar Baru in Lahad Datu, Sabah placed under EMCO till 15 December

Over in Lahad Datu, Sabah, the EMCO would be enforced in Kampung Desa Bajau and Kampung Dasar Baru from 2 December 2020 to 15 December 2020. This decision will impact 914 houses and 4,934 residents.

To date, Ismail Sabri noted that the Health Ministry has conducted 665 screenings in the two localities, discovering 90 COVID-19.

EMCO to be enforced in Sibuga Temporary Detention Centre in Sandakan from 2 December to 15 December

During the same press briefing, Ismail Sabri added that the Sibuga Temporary Detention Centre in Sandakan would also be placed under EMCO for the same period (from 2 December 2020, to 15 December 2020), involving 1,209 individuals comprising 1,104 detainees and 105 staff.

This will allow the MOH to conduct targeted screening on all detainees and staff at the temporary detention centre, he added. 

Top Glove worker hostel sees EMCO extension till 14 December 

Additionally, the EMCO for the Top Glove worker hostel which was scheduled to end yesterday (30 November) will see an extension till 14 December 2020. The EMCO started on 17 November.

Ismail Sabri said the decision was made as there are still new COVID-19 positive cases detected among the workers in their second screening.

He added that to date, the Health Ministry has conducted 5,805 screenings on the factory’s workers and 3,406 cases were confirmed COVID-19 positive.

On the back of the announcement, Top Glove released a statement saying it will "extend its fullest cooperation to the relevant authorities towards flattening the curve," and will "extend its fullest cooperation to the relevant authorities towards flattening the curve."

In the statement, the company also assured all stakeholders that it will continue to work closely with the relevant authorities through this period and adhere to all COVID-19 preventive measures, with the continued safety and well-being of its employees and local community as the foremost priority.

EMCO lifted in Putra Point Nilai, Negeri Sembilan and Sekolah Agama Bantuan Kerajaan Maahad Al Yahyawiyah, Padang Rengas, Kuala Kangsar, Perak

Meanwhile, the EMCO has been lifted in two areas - Putra Point Nilai, Negeri Sembilan, and Sekolah Agama Bantuan Kerajaan Maahad Al Yahyawiyah, Padang Rengas, Kuala Kangsar, Perak. 

In Putra Point Nilai, Negeri Sembilan, the EMCO was in place since 28 October 2020 and the decision to remove it came after the MOH confirmed that there were no additional positive cases in the last four days.

In Sekolah Agama Bantuan Kerajaan Maahad Al Yahyawiyah, Padang Rengas, Kuala Kangsar, Perak, the EMCO, which began on 8 November 2020, ended on 30 November 2020, five days earlier than what was scheduled (5 December 2020).

EMCO in Kampung Numbak and the Telipok settlement in Kota Kinabalu, Sabah extended to 13 December

In a separate report by Bernama on 29 November, Ismail Sabri announced that the EMCO in Kampung Numbak and the Telipok settlement in Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, has been extended to 13 December.

He said that the decision was made after the MOH conducted risk assessments in the two areas.

"As of Nov 27, MOH confirmed there are still 109 active cases in Kampung Numbak while the Telipok Settlement has 136 active cases. In addition to the high number of active cases, several more residents in these two localities are required to undergo screening,” he elaborated.

The EMCO was enforced in the two areas beginning from Nov 16.

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