KUALA LUMPUR: The government has distributed 23.4 million face masks to households in the country, said Senior Minister (Security Cluster) Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob.
He said the face masks were 69 per cent of the 32.4 million that are to be distributed.
“The remaining nine million face masks will be handed over to the Civil Defence Department and district disaster management authorities for distribution this week.
“The distribution in Sabah and Sarawak will begin today,” he told a daily Covid-19 update press conference today.
On a separate matter, Ismail Sabri said 193 quarantine centres have been activated as of yesterday, housing 16,844 individuals undergoing the 14-day mandatory quarantine upon returning to the country.
“There is a slight increase compared to the 191 quarantine centres a day before. A total 1,137 Malaysians returned to the country yesterday.”
A total 14,937 Malaysians were put under mandatory quarantine since Apr 3.
“Till Apr 18, 2,317 of them have completed the quarantine and returned home,” he added.
Meanwhile, Ismail Sabri said since Mar 30, the Housing and Local Government Ministry conducted 3,040 sanitisation operations in 107 zones, including 30 red zones nationwide.
“A total 250 operations covered 78 zones in 14 states yesterday. This included 44 areas in Terengganu.
“Yesterday’s operations were conducted at 159 government buildings, 111 public areas, 133 business premises and nine supermarkets,” he said.
He said the government did not stop private companies offering sanitisation services, but stressed these companies must follow guidelines by the Health Ministry and would be observed by the Fire and Rescue Department.