A DROP in arrests was recorded for the first time  since the government’s movement control order began, with only 413 individuals detained for violating it yesterday, said Senior Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob.

“The drop was 21.18% compared with arrests made on Thursday, when 524 individuals were arrested. We hope this pattern can continue day after day,” Ismail told his daily press conference in Putrajaya today.

Ismail later revealed that so far, 380 people have been remanded with 362 charged in court, while 33 were released on police bail.

“We can consider the drop on Friday as a sign that public compliance has increased,” he added.

Meanwhile, Ismail said police have opened 184 investigation papers on fake news, with 20 cases brought to court.

Among the fake news being investigated included claims that Malaysians arriving from overseas were being ferried in a prison truck to quarantine centres.

“It was said yesterday that Malaysians who arrived at the airport were taken in a prison truck to be sent to the quarantine centre. This is not true.

“They were taken in buses and only their belongings were transported using the trucks. This is fake news.

“At times like these, people are still spreading false information and this should have not happened.”

Covid-19 infections rose by 217 cases yesterday, with 41 students of a tahfiz school testing positive, bringing the total number of infections to 3,333. 

Another three fatalities were reported in the past 24 hours, taking the death toll to 53, Health director-general Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah had said.

Of the positive cases, 108 are being treated in intensive care units, with 54 needing respiratory support.

Sixty patients have recovered and been discharged from hospitals, taking the total number of recoveries to 827. – April 4, 2020.