PUTRAJAYA: Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad said there has been no talk yet of reinstating the Movement Control Order (MCO).
He said there has been concern raised among the public, especially on social media, regarding the rise in the number of Covid-19 cases in Malaysia.
He said authorities are optimistic that it will be able to manage the numbers without having to introduce restrictions, as enforced during the early days of the pandemic in 2020.
"We acknowledge that Malaysia is seeing a sharp rise in Covid-19 cases. However, we hope that we can weather this without having to reinstate the MCO like before.
"For the time being, there has been no talk of reinstating the MCO," he said at a press conference on Covid-19 at the Health Ministry today.
Dr Dzulkefly also said there was also no need to reintroduce the scanning of MySejahtera QR codes when entering premises.
He said Malaysia recorded 20,696 new cases, a 62.2 per cent increase in epidemiological week 50 from Dec 10 to Dec 16, compared with the week before.
The majority of these cases (97 per cent) are in categories one and two, while 619 cases were in categories three, four, and five.
Of the total, 20,677 involved Malaysians, while 609 others were foreigners. The Health Ministry also recorded 19 import cases, and 151 cases needing treatment in the intensive care unit.
Dr Dzulkefly said 96 cases require ventilators, and 28 deaths had been reported.
"We are getting ready for any eventuality. There's nothing to be alarmed about but don't take things lightly.
"Do practice preventive measures such as wearing a mask in enclosed areas, practising personal hygiene, conducting regular testing, and do not be at congested areas if you are symptomatic.
"Help to protect others and yourself," he said in a press conference at the ministry here, today.
He added that his ministry would be implementing a five-pronged strategy to tackle the rising number of cases, including through its heightened alert system, surveillance, empowering communities through TRIIS (test, report, isolate, inform, seek), among others.
He assured that government health facilities were capable of handling any surge in the number of cases, and is ready to mobilise other facilities if required.
"The Health Ministry continues to closely monitor hospital capacity, and we are ready to face any increase in patient admission.
"We are also ready to mobilise and reinforce facilities and non-Health Ministry agencies such as teaching hospitals, military hospitals, private facilities and non-governmental organisations,"