Perlis declares targeted enhanced MCO for two areas

The Perlis state government has implemented the targeted enhanced movement control order for 28 days starting from today in two villages in Kuala Sanglang.

The decision, involving Kampung Kuala Sanglang and Kampung Tanah Timbul, will start from 10 pm tonight until Sept 4.

The state government, through a statement, said the implementation of the targetted enhanced MCO was made after getting the advice from the Ministry 

of Health after taking into account the number of active Covid-19 cases in the area.

"Residents in the area are asked to fully cooperate with the authorities," said the statement.

According to the statement, the implementation of the targetted enhanced MCO will adopt the existing standard operating procedures (SOP) of the recovery movement control order (RMCO) in addition to the implementation of roadblocks at each entrance and exit to the area.

"Members of the public who are outside the areas are not allowed to enter except those who are involved in providing essential services," it said.

The statement said the residents in both villages were asked to comply with the home isolation orders (quarantine) which were issued to the residents after undergoing a Covid-19 screening test at the Sanglang Health Clinic.

"During the quarantine order period at home, the head of household is allowed to leave the house to buy daily necessities while waiting for all members of the household to obtain a release order by the Perlis state Health Department," the statement said.

According to the statement, the state government was concerned about the difficulties that would be experienced (by the residents) and would channel aid to the two villages involved.

Meanwhile, the Health Ministry confirmed today that only Kedah, Perlis and Penang currently have Covid-19 positive cases linked to the Sivagangga cluster.

Health Minister Adham Baba said a positive case detected in Selangor and reportedly from the same cluster yesterday was still under investigation while two more in Perak were Influenza-Like Illness (ILI) cases.

"Up to yesterday, we found that the Sivagangga cluster has spread to Kubang Pasu, Padang Terap dan Kulim. As Kubang Pasu neighbours Kuala Sanglang in Perlis, the state (Perlis) now has cases and the latest is in Sungai Bakap in Penang.

"We are continuing our efforts and we urge individuals who think they may have had contact with those from the Sivagangga cluster starting from July 13 till now to come forward as the cluster also involves lorry drivers (patrons of the eatery) who returned their respective locations,” he told a media conference after the handover of the health clinic construction project in Batu Berendam, Melaka today.

Adham said the ministry was doubling its efforts to contain the spread of the cluster by enforcing the targeted enhanced MCO in the affected areas, adding that contact tracing and screenings for this cluster would have to be done as much as possible to break the chain of infection.