TIGHT border controls must be maintained even after the movement control order (MCO) is lifted as other countries continue battling the Covid-19 pandemic, Health director-general Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah said today.

“Lifting the MCO doesn’t mean we will lift border controls. In fact, we must strengthen it more.

“We need to tighten border controls… as more cases are being identified in other countries,” he told the daily press conference on Covid-19 in Putrajaya today. 

Restrictions under the MCO will be eased, but slowly, he added.

For the economy, he said certain segments might be allowed to “take-off first”, while others have to wait longer.

Worldwide, there are more than 2.6 million Covid-19 cases, of which around 1.7 million are active cases. There have also been more than 185,000 deaths.

Dr Noor Hisham said Malaysia’s exit strategy from the MCO has to be done gradually while taking into account the rate of infections.

“We cannot lift (the MCO) totally but slowly. I would call it a soft landing. 

“It may take time, maybe a couple of weeks or even months for us to slowly continue to embrace the new normal for society,” he added.

Dr Noor Hisham also said he met with Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin this morning to discuss six criteria needed before any decision to lift or extend the MCO.

Malaysia today recorded 71 new Covid-19 cases and two more deaths.

The cumulative number of cases now stands at 5,603 while the death toll is 95.

However, there continues to be more recoveries than positive cases, with 90 patients discharged today, taking the total number of who have recovered to 3,542.

After deaths and recoveries, there are 1,966 active cases. – April 23, 2020.