[UPDATED] Govt Considering Total Economic Shutdown By 4 Feb If Covid-19 Cases Continue To Rise

All Malaysian states (except Sarawak) are currently under MCO until 4th February.

Firdaus Latif/Malay Mail

Subscribe to our Telegram channel for the latest stories and updates.

UPDATE: Eurocham Malaysia released a statement saying that the leaked internal memo was issued only to its members after an informal discussion with MITI on 22 Jan. They said there was “no immediate mention of a lockdown after 4th February 2021” and that the discussion with the ministry was aimed at raising awareness on how the business community can play its role in flattening the Covid-19 curve, as well as the economic repercussions that could follow.

Malaysia could expect a total economic shutdown after 4th February if the nation’s Covid-19 numbers do not improve, warned the EU-Malaysia Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Eurocham Malaysia) in a letter issued to its members.

Malay Mail reports that the letter was issued after a meeting between Eurocham Malaysia chief executive Sven Schneider and International Trade and Industry Ministry (MITI).

The letter states that the Health Ministry (MOH) has “made a clear stand on the matter of a complete shutdown of the economy”.

Should the infection rate not decrease, the Malaysian government will announce a shutdown/strict lockdown immediately after February 4, 2021. This is the current situation we are facing and MITI is appealing to all companies, foreign and local, to join the effort of reducing infections, breaking the chain, to keep the economy open for business.
EU-Malaysia Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Eurocham Malaysia) via Malay Mail

All Malaysian states (except Sarawak) are currently under Movement Control Order (MCO) until 4th February.

MOH predicts 5,000 daily new infections the week after Chinese New Year

Health Director-General Tan Sri Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah released data showing the infection rate of Covid-19 or (R0/ Rt) as of 22nd January at 1.09.

But if the R0 increases to 1.2, MOH forecasts 5,000 daily new cases in the third week of February, followed by 8,000 daily new cases in the third week of March.

The third week of February coincides with the end of Chinese New Year, but the occasion is unlikely to affect the case numbers as interstate travel and social gatherings are currently banned.

Kadar kebolehjangkitan Covid-19 atau Ro/Rt pada jangkaan mengikut kes seharian pada 22 Januari 2021 untuk seluruh negara adalah 1.09. Manakala pecahan mengikut negeri adalah seperti di lampiran. pic.twitter.com/nz6MRghluc
— Noor Hisham Abdullah (@DGHisham) January 23, 2021

R0, pronounced R-naught, is a value calculated to provide information on the potential spread of a disease in a community. It represents the average number of people a single infected person can be expected to transmit the disease to.

Or more simply, it is the calculation of the average “spreadability” of an infectious disease. The higher the value, the more infectious it is.

On 23rd January, Malaysia recorded its highest increase in daily infections with 4,275 new cases as well as the country’s deadliest day with 18 reported deaths.

However, there is some good news as well.

Yesterday (23 Jan) for the first time after 14 days, the number of active Covid-19 cases in the country decreased.

Share your thoughts with us on TRP’s Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.