Gov’t clarifies 10km limit on travel, and 9 news from yesterday

KINI ROUNDUP | Key headlines you may have missed yesterday, in brief.

1. Defence Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob clarified there are exceptions to the 10km limit on travel, while Health Minister Dr Adham Baba said those seeking medical treatment or buying medicine are exempt from the rule.

2. Health director-general Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah has joined an international coalition to fight Covid-19 in resource-poor settings, and the group is calling for more clinical trials to be conducted in such settings.

3. The uptick in reports Covid-19 cases is due to increased effort in tracking down patients in areas under the enhanced movement control order, not a previously predicted ‘third wave’ that is still to come in mid-April.

4. Sarawak Assistant Transport Minister Jerip Susil has been warded after testing positive for Covid-19. Meanwhile, some Orang Asli folk have fled for the forests after the first cases of Orang Asli being infected were reported last week.

5. Two impoverished people attempted to go fishing for food, only to end up with a three-month jail sentence when they were convicted for violating the movement control order and could not pay the fine.

6. Finance Ministry will table a special stimulus package for small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in cabinet next week and this will be announced by the prime minister upon approval.

7. Malaysia is expecting a baby boom early next year due to the movement control order.

8. PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang’s appointment as special envoy to the Middle East has drawn criticism.

9. Singapore is shutting down schools and most workplaces as part of stricter measures to curb the spread of Covid-19.

10. Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison has told international students and visitors who are no longer financially able to support their stay to go home, while the Malaysian Higher Education Ministry advised students abroad to stay where they are.

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