PUTRAJAYA: Malaysia is not poised to enter Covid-19 "exit strategy phase" yet as the number of positive cases continue to remain at two digits.
Health director-general Datuk Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah said it was also due to the low compliance rate on the standard operating procedures (SOPs) among migrants, which the ministry is working to address.
He said as more sectors re-open on June 10, including social, education and sports sectors, the Prevention and Control of Infectious Diseases Act 1988 (Act 342) still needs to be enforced for Covid-19 monitoring and control process.
"We are currently not ready for an exit strategy. We are now entering a 'recovery phase' where monitoring and control require Act 342.
"Act 342 will be used to monitor and ensure individuals and businesses (currently in operation and those allowed to re-open from June 10 like barbershops, hair dressing salons and beauty parlours) implement and comply with the SOPs.
"If there is a spike in cases or clusters at a particular locality, the area will be placed under the Enforced Movement Control Order (EMCO) where all residents (foreigners and locals) will be screened and tested.
"Individuals detected with Covid-19 will be isolated, while close contacts placed under quarantine," he said at a press conference, here, today.
Dr Noor Hisham said the authority to enforce the Act has also been handed down to the police, armed forces, Rela and relevant enforcement agencies.
He said border control would continue to be tightened, restricting foreigners from entering the country and Malaysians were discouraged from travelling abroad.
Meanwhile, he said, the Conditional Movement Control Order (CMCO) currently in place has proven effective, which saw Malaysia successfully controlling the spread of the disease, bringing down the number of cases to two-digits.
"Among Malaysians, we have achieved single-digit cases. Based on our projection for another week, this single-digit will remain.
"But we identified the need to ensure increased compliance (to the SOPs) among migrants. Action has been taken with a committee having been set up to oversee this.
"Besides, we predicted a spike in cases after Hari Raya but this was not the case. We only saw an increase in cases at the immigration depots.
"We are now conducting the second screening and testing among the undocumented migrants at the depots and we have identified positive cases. They have been isolated and close contacts placed under quarantine."
Dr Noor Hisham said the protocol for infectious diseases at immigration depots would also have to be tightened and authorities would also monitor the situation at prisons and police departments.
"These are the places that we will focus our surveillance on."