THE government has imposed a lockdown on some areas in Sg Lui, Hulu Langat, after 71 Covid-19 cases were detected at a tahfiz school there, said Ismail Sabri Yaakob.

The defence minister said the enhanced movement-control order (EMCO) affects 3,918 people from 700 families, including 274 students of Maahad Tahfiz An-Nabawiyyah in Batu 23, Sg Lui.

“This includes five kampung and two Orang Asli settlements. The order is effective midnight tonight.

“The EMCO will end on April 13,” he said in a statement this evening.

The lockdown covers the areas from Batu 21 to Batu 24.

Earlier this week, two areas in Johor’s Simpang Renggam were placed under the EMCO due to their high rate of coronavirus infections.

Kampung Dato’ Ibrahim Majid and Bandar Baharu Dato’ Ibrahim Majid have seen 61 cases among their 3,570 residents.

To date, 97 cases have been reported in Kluang, with 81 of them from the two areas.

Ismail Sabri said EMCO declarations are made on the advice of the Health Ministry.

Under the order, all businesses must close, and main routes to the affected areas are blocked.

The government will set up a medical base in the affected Sg Lui areas, and enforcement personnel will be stationed there, said the minister.

He urged residents to stay calm and cooperate with the authorities, saying they can call 03-8925-4809 or 03-8911-4200 if they have any questions.

Essential items will be distributed by the Welfare Department during the EMCO period, he added.

Earlier today, Director-General of Health Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah reported seven new Covid-19 deaths in the last 24 hours, the highest daily figure registered. This brings Malaysia’s total fatalities to 34.

There are 150 new cases of infection, driving up the national toll to 2,470.

Currently, 73 patients are in the intensive care unit, 52 of whom are on ventilators.

Another 68 patients have been discharged from hospital, bringing the total number of those who have recovered to 388. – March 29, 2020.