KOTA KINABALU: The Sabah government is allocating RM2 million in immediate assistance to each Covid-19 red zone amidst a continuing surge in Covid-19 cases in the state.
Sabah currently has 10 red zones: Tawau, Semporna, Lahad Datu, Kunak, Kota Kinabalu, Penampang, Putatan, Sandakan, Tuaran and Papar.
The total RM20 million allocation will be in the form of food baskets which will be delivered to each red zone via its respective district disaster operational control centre (PKOB).
In a statement, Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor said the distribution of food baskets will be jointly handled by the police, the People's Volunteer Corps (Rela), the state Health Department (JKNS), and the state Public Welfare Services Department.
Meanwhile, to further tackle the spread of Covid-19 in Sabah, Hajiji said the state government has temporarily suspend barter trade activities starting Oct 12.
He said from Oct 1 to Oct 9, JKNS recorded 1,728 positive cases in Sabah.
Sandakan, Papar, and Tuaran are the latest districts designated as red zones where 14-day Conditional Movement Control Orders (CMCO) have been imposed starting yesterday.
The Sabah Covid-19 Disaster Management Committee has also extended the Enhanced MCO (EMCO) for Tawau prison and the Taman Ehsan prison quarters in Tawau to Oct 25.
An EMCO is also imposed on several villages in Semporna: Kampung Pinggir Bakau, Kampung Simunul, Kampung Bangau-Bangau, Kampung Panji, Kampung Air, and Kampung Selamat; and Kampung Pangkalan, Kampung Bagiang, and Kampung Kunak 3 in Kunak.
Hajiji reminded Sabahans to play their role in fighting Covid-19 by complying with standard operating procedures, which include avoiding crowded places, confined spaces, and close conversation.