IPOH, May 19 — Perak Menteri Besar Datuk Saarani Mohamad has dismissed as false a claim spread via the WhatsApp application that a stricter Movement Control Order (MCO) or full lockdown will be implemented throughout the state this Friday.
He said no decision had been made and that discussions on the matter were still ongoing.
“I’m not sure where the source of the information came from. We do have a series of meetings on the implementation of MCO but no final decision has been made yet.
“In fact, at 3pm today, there will be a meeting to address the COVID-19 situation in Perak that has become increasingly worrying, especially in the Kinta, Hulu Perak, Larut and Selama districts,” he told a virtual press conference today.
The viral message, among others, claimed that the Perak state government will announce the implementation of MCO which will take effect on Friday due to the high COVID-19 infectivity rate of the South African variant.
Perak recorded 160 positive COVID-19 cases and three deaths Tuesday.
Meanwhile, Saarani said the state government has increased the number of beds at Low-Risk Quarantine and Treatment Centre (PKRC) at the Ipoh Badminton Stadium from 208 to 308 to accommodate COVID-19 patients which are expected to increase in the next three to four weeks.
He said the state government was also in the midst of identifying locations either in the northern area of the state or in the Hilir Perak area to be turned into a PKRC, in preparation for the possible increase in COVID-19 cases in Perak.
“Perak can no longer rely on PKRCs in MAEPS Serdang, Selangor and Seberang Perai, Penang since both centres are having an increase in the number of patients.
“We have also agreed to provide meals to frontliners at the vaccination centres (PPV) in support of their tireless efforts to break the chain of the COVID-19 infection,” he said.
Asked if the state government would procure its own vaccine supplies, Saarani said the matter was still under discussion.
He said the decision on the matter would take into account of the state’s financial situation.
Yesterday, the COVID-19 Immunisation Task Force (CITF) was reported to have said that the state governments were allowed to purchase their own vaccine supplies, provided that the vaccine has obtained approval from the National Pharmaceutical Regulatory Agency (NPRA).
