THE Health Ministry expects the number of Covid-19 cases reported daily to stabilise in the coming week to around 3,000 a day with a prediction of R-naught (R0) value of 1.2, said Director-General of Health Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah. 

He said the ministry would evaluate whether the movement control order (MCO) should be extended. 

“The Health Ministry expects the R0 to be more than 1.2 in the coming week but we are also hoping that the cases would stabilise, probably around 3,000 cases per day. 

“So, we will then re-evaluate the situation after two weeks whether to extend the MCO for another two more weeks,” Noor Hisham said at a press conference today at Putrajaya. 

Last week, an initial six states were put on the MCO, followed by all states except Sarawak this week.

Noor Hisham said that he supported the move, as interstate travel had led to a spike in infections. 

He said the number of cases has increased across the peninsula. 

“We see an increase in cases not only in the Klang Valley but the number of cases has increased across the peninsula as a result of crossing states and districts. 

“So, the latest implementation of the nationwide MCO is fair,” he said. – January 19, 2021.