![Experts call for interstate ban to extend past Hari Raya. MCO could last until next year 01]()
As the latest round of the 2-week Conditional Movement Control Order (CMCO) nears its end, health experts are calling to have the lockdown extended past Hari Raya Aidilfitri. This would mean that the interstate travel ban will likely extend past the upcoming festivities.
Leading the call to extend the restrictions beyond Hari Raya, which is expected to fall on 13 May 2021, is Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Adham Baba.
According to the minister, the Covid-19 situation in Malaysia is not looking good. Although positive cases had seen a deep earlier in the month, numbers are back in the 2,000s. Amidst the high numbers, there are also concerns about the new (South African) Covid-19 variant’s existence.
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![Experts call for interstate ban to extend past Hari Raya. MCO could last until next year 01]()
Hence the Health Ministry’s strong support for the extension of the conditional and recovery MCOs another 4 more weeks.
The Medical Practitioners Coalition Association of Malaysia also echoes the sentiment to keep the interstate travel restriction in place. President of the association, Dr Raj Kumar Maharajah told The Star that MCO should continue until infectivity rates or the R0 (R-naught) goes below 1.0.
When infectivity rates go below 1.0, it means that each infected person infects fewer than one new person.
![Experts call for interstate ban to extend past Hari Raya. MCO could last until next year 02]()
He explains that as sad as it is that individuals are not allowed to see their family members during the festive celebrations, he reminds the public about the dangers of spreading to kampung folk and the elderly.
Meanwhile, Malaysian Public Health Physicians’ Association president Datuk Dr Zainal Ariffin Omar recommends that interstate travel can be extended according to zones such as northern, east coast, and southern.
Also read: CMCO update: You can only travel across states from Monday to Thursday
![Experts call for interstate ban to extend past Hari Raya. MCO could last until next year 03]()
This will allow Malaysians whose families are in the same zone more leeway during the Raya period.
Dr Zainal also told The Star that looking at the upward trend of cases, he cautioned that MCO could last until next year.
“Vaccinating 80% of the population will help but we also need to assess the situation again in the future.”
Also read: In case of another Neelofa, PDRM to hold stricter interstate measures during Ramadan
There isnât a time in memory that doesnât involve staring at cars. After discovering the excitement of watching Schumacher vs Hakkinen, Formula 1 became a major part of life. The love for cars and F1 ultimately led to a job with CAR Magazine. The untimely death of the magazine meant a hiatus from cars at lifestyle womenâs magazine Marie Claire before another opportunity came knocking again.
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