Muhyiddin rules out total lockdown for now, worries about economic collapse

COVID-19 | Amidst a sharp spike in Covid-19 cases, Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin has ruled out a nationwide lockdown for now and warned that it could cause societal and economic collapse.

"As of today, we are not considering the implementation of the movement control order or a total lockdown.

"Such measures, if undertaken again, could have a huge effect and might cause societal and economic collapse," he said.

Instead, his administration's strategy was to implement targeted lockdowns in areas with a large number of Covid-19 cases.

"With this approach, economic and social activities in other areas will not be affected and can continue based on strict observance of the SOPs and the strict enforcement of the laws.

"I believe the readiness of the health system will allow us to fight the spread of Covid-19 without having to shut down the economy like before," he said.

In a live broadcast this evening, he also said Malaysia's economic recovery was proceeding smoothly and the interest of its 15 million workers came first.

The number of active Covid-19 cases surged to 2,936 as of noon today - the highest on record.

This followed an increase in new cases in Kedah and Sabah which Muhyiddin attributed to detention centres as the main cause.

Currently, four districts in Sabah - Tawau, Kunak, Semporna and Lahad Datu - are under strict lockdown conditions and will be joined by three more - Kota Kinabalu, Putatan and Penampang - from midnight tonight.

Sabah's borders will be entirely closed from Oct 12 to Oct 25, with travel allowed only under special circumstances.

In addition, the districts of Klang (Selangor), Papar (Sabah) and Alor Setar (Kedah) have been designated as "red zones" which denote places with more than 40 cases each.

Muhyiddin assured that Malaysia was in a much better position to deal with the Covid-19 outbreak now.

"We are now better prepared than before in terms of experience and manpower. We know the behaviour of the virus better and we have enough facilities and equipment," he said.

The government, he said, was also formulating new policies for schools and new rules to limit gatherings. These new measures would be announced in time.

He said the best way to break the transmission of Covid-19 was to stay at home whenever possible, especially in areas where the targeted movement control orders (MCO) were being enforced.

"We must flatten the curve. We did it before and I firmly believe we can do it again," he said.

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