COVID-19: Second wave? Malaysia's approach not the same as Hokkaido's

The government’s approach in dealing with COVID-19 infections was different from the one implemented in Hokkaido, Japan, said Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob.

The senior minister (Security Cluster) said that although the government would implement the Conditional Movement Control Order (CMCO) from May 4, the country's doors were still closed to foreigners.

As such, he said the people did not have to worry about the possibility of Malaysia following the footprints of Hokkaido which was hit by the second wave following the country's decision to end the curfew.

“To this day we do not allow (the entry of foreigners). Our airports do not accept foreigners and our own people returning from overseas will be subject to compulsory quarantine.

“This (step) is to curb import cases such as those in Hokkaido. So, there is a difference between us and Hokkaido because we do not accept outsiders,” he said in a daily press conference here on Saturday.

Elaborating, Ismail Sabri said the government's move was also to implement the Enhanced Movement Control Order (EMCO) in areas showing increased cases of COVID-19.

“As happened in the Sungai Lui (Hulu Langat) EMCO when we locked up only the Tahfiz Centre, it means that we are now ready if there is an area (that shows sharp spike in cases) that we will not 'lock' the whole area but we will 'lock' in the EMCO area only.

"So, we are prepared and able because our approach is different now by focusing on targeted areas," he said.

Hokaido, which has a population of 5.3 million people, reportedly recorded a second wave of COVID-19 after ending a curfew on March 19 after its cases of infection had been reduced to a single digit.