SELANGOR was supposed to be placed under a complete movement control order in October due to rising Covid-19 cases but that plan was rejected as it would impact the country’s economy, said Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah.

The Health director-general said the government decided against the MCO in Selangor due to the high cost it would cause.

“We then decided to implement the conditional movement control order (CMCO)

“Implementing MCO would affect the country as 40% of the country’s economy is in Selangor,” he said during his Covid-19 media briefing in Putrajaya.

Selangor recorded 402 cases of Covid-19 today, more than Sabah which had 346 new cases.

Dr Noor Hisham said authorities could screen those who are coming back in Sabah and quarantine them but it’s difficult to do that in Selangor.

“In Selangor we can’t restrict their movements or screen everyone that goes in and out of the state and quarantine them.

“What they need to do to control the spread is to follow the standard operating procedure.”

As for the third wave, Dr Noor Hisham said that they can reduce the cases if the people comply with the SOP.

“If all comply with the SOP  then we don’t need CMCO. But, if 90% comply and 10% don’t then there will be more problems.” – November 21, 2020.