PETALING JAYA (THE STAR/ASIA NEWS NETWORK) - All four health districts in the federal territory of Kuala Lumpur have now been classified as Covid-19 "red zones", with Cheras district being the latest addition after recording 44 cases.
The other Kuala Lumpur health districts classified as red zones are Lembah Pantai (376 confirmed cases), Kepong (112), and Titiwangsa (90).
A district is categorised as a red zone area once it has more than 40 Covid-19 cases, with the authorities then putting them under stricter enforcement during the ongoing Movement Control Order (MCO), which is into its 20th day on Monday (April 6).
The 28-day MCO runs from March 18 to April 14.
The spreading of the red zoens to encompass all four health districts in Kuala Lumpur - Malaysia's most densely populated areas - has led to speculation that the fight against Covid-19 is going to take even longer, with more stringent measures in place.
Federal Territories Minister Annuar Musa hinted in a tweet Monday (April 6) that there was to be a "long battle" to break the virus chain.
"The Health Ministry has given us the impression that we need to be prepared to make a 'longer sacrifice' in an effort to break the Covid-19 transmission chain," Tan Sri Annuar said. "We believe the standard operating procedure and detailed guidance will be released soon."
Meantime, former Malaysian prime minister Mahathir Mohamad said on Monday that people should expect a change in lifestyle, as a drop in monthly income is looming due to fallout from the Covid-19 and the movement curbs.
"One of the things we have to accept is that if the business is not good, you cannot expect to be paid the same way.
"All of us will have lower income, therefore our lifestyle will have to change. We cannot enjoy the same old lifestyle which cost money," Tun Dr Mahathir said in an interview with MyPerintis youth group on Facebook live on Monday.
The Malaysian government has announced a raft of measures to help employees and employers cope with the 28-day partial lockdown.
Meanwhile, Health Ministry said that the total number of red zones in the country is now 18.
These 18 zones account for 2,453, or 67 per cent of the total cumulative cases in the country.
Malaysia on Sunday reported 179 new coronavirus cases, raising the total to 3,662. Four more people have died from the virus, raising the tally to 61.
The update for Cheras was recorded at noon on Sunday and shared via an infographic on the Health Ministry's Twitter account posted on Monday.
Four of the 18 districts classified as red zones are in Selangor - Hulu Langat, Petaling, Klang and Gombak; three in Johor - Johor Baru, Batu Pahat and Kluang; and two in Perak - Kinta and Hilir Perak.
Here are the 14 red zones apart from the four in KL - Hulu Langat (318 confirmed Covid-19 cases); Petaling (292); Kuching, Sarawak (165); Seremban, Negeri Sembilan (156); Kluang (147); Johor Baru (139); Klang (109); Gombak (100); Kinta (84); Kota Baru, Kelantan (82); Tawau, Sabah (67); Hilir Perak (65); Jerantut, Pahang (60); and Batu Pahat (47).
The Health Ministry said there were also 22 orange zones in the country (20 to 40 cases), 78 yellow zones (one to 19 cases) and 30 green zones (no Covid-19 cases).
