KUALA LUMPUR, March 27 — Health authorities plan to run 300 coronavirus tests in two areas in Simpang Renggam, Kluang, Johor, that have been put under a total lockdown.
As at 12pm today, Kluang, Johor, has reported a total of 88 positive Covid-19 cases, of which 74 are from Kampung Dato’ Ibrahim Majid and Bandar Baharu Dato’ Ibrahim Majid di Simpang Renggam, Kluang.
“MOH targets 300 test samples taken daily starting today. Sampling will be preferred for the close-contact groups, symptomatic individuals, and high-risk groups,” Health director-general Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah said in a statement.
Yesterday, the Ministry of Defence announced that both these areas will be put under an Enhanced Movement Control Order (EMCO) until April 9.
“The EMCO involves the local population of 3,570 people from 650 families,” said Ismail Sabri Yaakob, Senior Minister for Defence, in a statement yesterday.
“All locals and visitors in both areas are not allowed to leave the house during the EMCO enforcement period. Non-locals and visitors are not allowed in both areas during this period.”
The statement also clarified that all business activities will be halted and basic staples will be provided to the locals by the Welfare Department for 14 days.
A medical base will be opened, and all entrances to the towns will be closed until the EMCO is revoked.
“To ensure compliance with this order, the Royal Malaysian Police, Malaysian Armed Forces, Malaysian Civil Defense Force and the Malaysian Volunteer Corps Department (RELA) will control the whole area.”
Today, Dr Noor Hisham explained the sanitisation and disinfection strategies that will be carried out in these two areas.
“For information, cleaning and disinfection in public places will be carried out in collaboration with the Ministry of Housing and Local Government and Majlis Daerah Simpang Renggam.
“The cleaning work will be concentrated in public places. Information will also be provided to all residents about proper home disinfection procedures,” he explained.