JOHOR BARU: The Health Ministry has recommended that the National Security Council (NSC) tighten Covid-19 standard operating procedures (SOPs) and restrict inter-state and inter-district travel as part of measures to control the spread of the virus.

Its minister, Datuk Seri Dr Adham Baba, said the ministry has also urged the authorities to be more stringent and organised in enforcing the SOPs.

"The number of cases has jumped because more tests are being conducted since we made it compulsory for employers in the construction and manufacturing sectors to screen their foreign workers beginning Jan 1.

"However, we did not expect such a big jump. Data shows that there are elements of non-compliance with the SOPs that we laid out when we re-opened the economy," said Dr Adham. 

He said the ratio of sporadic cases in the community to those involving foreign workers is almost equal, and the numbers have risen because of inter-state and inter-district travel.

"Data also shows that most cases are recorded in densely populated areas like Selangor, Kuala Lumpur, Johor, Penang and Sabah," said Dr Adham.

He was speaking to the media after attending the handing over of the Sultanah Aminah Hospital Blood Collection Centre project, here. Also present was Johor Health director Datuk Dr Aman Rabu.

On Friday, Senior Minister (Security Cluster) Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob said Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin will make a special announcement on measures that will be taken to handle the current Covid-19 situation on Monday.

On another matter, Dr Adham said the ministry does not see the need for a general election to be held at this moment.

"We are currently focused on handling the Covid-19 issue and the flood situation. We do not want the virus to spread at flood relief centres.

"We have to deploy a lot of manpower to the centres because we don't want clusters to emerge there.

"We don't see the issue raised in the media (the general election) as a priority," said Dr Adham.

Last week, Umno president Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said the party is adamant that the 15th general election should be held soon as the current government is brittle – a situation which would discourage investors from coming to Malaysia.

https://www.nst.com.my/news/nation/2021/01/655866/covid-19-health-ministry-wants-travel-restricted-sop-tightened