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KOTA KINABALU: Relaxation of conditions under the conditional movement control order (MCO) does not mean that the Covid-19 threat has ended in Sabah, says state government spokesman Datuk Seri Masidi Manjun.
He said the state must allow economic activities to continue, but the public must be constantly aware that the virus remains within the community and must take steps that include the following standard operating procedures to ensure it does not spread.
“We cannot close the economy forever; we have to allow the economy to move forward, ”he said during the Covid-19 press conference here on Monday (December 7).
Masidi said this when asked if the measure to relax the conditions in economic and social activities could be sending the wrong message that the threat of the pandemic was over, despite the fact that Sabah continues to record triple-digit cases daily since October. .
“Relaxation does not mean that the Covid-19 threat is over. The virus is still in the community, but we must ensure that everyone plays their role to stop the pandemic by following SOPs, ”he said, emphasizing that economic activities must move forward.
He said that even though there was relaxation under the CMCO until Dec. 20, there are social distancing SOPs regarding meetings, and this includes meeting for meetings at 50% of the meeting room or hall capacity.
Similar moves have also been made for the tourism sector, where operators can operate at 50% capacity and SOPs have also been included for all to observe.
About the surge of people doing Christmas and New Year’s Eve shopping in some of the city’s shopping centers, he said it was normal for people to go out to do their shopping for the holidays.
Masidi noted that most of the people and also the operators of the establishments are observing social distancing, wearing face masks and following standard operating procedures.
Masidi, who is the state’s Housing and Local Government Minister and State II’s Finance Minister, said that so far, Sabah has recorded 218 deaths involving 163 Malaysians and 55 foreigners.
Sandakan recorded the highest number of deaths with 65, followed by Kota Kinabalu (51), Tawau (31), Semporna (28), Tuaran (11), Lahad Datu (9), Kalabakan (5), Putatan (5), three each in Kudat and Papar, two in Papar and Telupid and one case in Kinabatangan, Tambunan and Penampang.
Sabah’s tourism and hotel sectors were allowed to operate under strict SOPs as of December 7, while golf was also allowed with only one person allowed to sit in a buggy.
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