MCO extension right call, says social welfare body

KUCHING: Social Welfare Council of Sarawak (SWCS) vice-president Chi Poh Yung has welcomed the extension of the movement control order (MCO) for two weeks in light of the current trend of Covid-19 cases in the country.

He said it was the right decision as the number of nationwide Covid-19 cases reported daily was still at three figures and does not seem to be diminishing.

“Any action to allow free movement of the public will increase the chances of the virus being spread among the community,” he said to New Sarawak Tribune yesterday.

He noted that there was still no definite vaccine for Covid-19 at present.

He said that as the public was more prepared and willing to comply with the MCO now, it was important for the government to speed up corrective measures to ensure that the country would be able to overcome this challenge as soon as possible.

“China took about three months to get the virus under control, we may estimate between one to one-and-a-half months to combat a similar situation.

“It can be done through experience-sharing from China’s doctors and a high level of self-discipline in our people,” said Chi.

He urged the public to stay at home and reduce the burden on the nation’s medical staff on the frontlines by decreasing the number of cases daily.

Yesterday, Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin announced that the government would extend the MCO until April 14 – an additional two weeks after its initial end date of March 31.