The Health Ministry (MoH) is considering imposing a full-scale Movement Control Order (MCO) in Selangor if COVID-19 cases in the state continue to rise, said its minister, Datuk Seri Dr Adham Baba.

“I agree that we need to suggest to the government that a stricter SOP and MCO should be enforced if we can’t contain the situation, so the suggestion to introduce a full MCO can be considered,” he said.

Dr Adham also stressed that the government has taken all the necessary measures to curb the spread of the virus, such implementing a national MCO, enforcing a work-from-home policy, tightening border controls and increasing Covid-19 testing in areas of concern.

Selangor recorded 1,507 daily cases on May 15, 1,275 cases on May 16 and 1,650 cases on May 17. COVID-19 infection rate for the whole country according to daily cases recorded as of May 17 is estimated to be 1.06, while Selangor's RT rating is estimated to be 1.14, the highest in the country.

Apart from that, seven more cases linked to Variants of Concern (VOC) have been identified, four of the cases involved Malaysians who contracted the South African B.1.351 variant in Kuala Lumpur while three other cases were of foreigners who had contracted the Indian B.1.617 variant.

"To date, 66 Covid-19 cases have been infected with the South African B.1.351 variant while five cases have contracted the Indian B.1.617 (including sublineage B.1.617.1 dan B.1.617.2) variant," health director-general Tan Sri Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah said.

Senior Minister for Security Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob said each decision to implement an MCO would be based on advice from the Health Ministry.

"We will discuss this matter in the special National Security Council meeting (on COVID-19). If the Health Ministry sees a need (for a total lockdown), then the matter will be presented (during the meeting)," he told a press conference. 

Reference Links - 
[1] The Edge 
[2] Free Malaysia Today
[3] Malay Mail
[4] New Straits Times
[5] New Straits Times