ALL Ramadan and Aidilfitri bazaars in areas under the movement control order (MCO) will be closed from Monday, said Ismail Sabri Yaakob. 

The senior minister also said all premises listed as Covid-19 hotspots in the Hotspot Identification for Dynamic Engagement (HIDE) system have also been instructed to shut for three days with immediate effect.

Preventive measures such as risk assessment will be taken during the three days.

Explaining the system, Ismail Sabri said HIDE detects a locality that has a record of infections, after which the government will do a risk assessment with the Health Ministry and temporarily close the locality to enable movement controls to be enforced.

Based on the list of places identified by HIDE issued today, more than 150 places, including shopping malls and supermarket chains, mostly in the Klang Valley, will have to close immediately for three days.

As for Ramadan bazaars, two of them – Lorong Tuanku Abdul Rahman, Kuala Lumpur, and Precinct 3, Putrajaya – are listed as hotspots by the system.

Yesterday, the Federal Territories Ministry identified and monitored several Ramadan bazaars and shopping malls in the federal capital that were visited by hundreds of Covid-19 positive individuals and close contacts.

On Wednesday, Selangor Menteri Besar Amiruddin Shah ordered the closure of bazaars in the state effective yesterday. 

Malaysia recorded new Covid-19 cases exceeding 4,000 for the second straight day, at 4,519, as of noon today.

Director-general of health Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah also warned that daily cases could reach 7,000 by the end of the month or early June, if people did not follow measures to curb Covid-19 transmissions. – May 8, 2021.