KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 28 — The federal government announced tonight that the recovery movement control order (RMCO) will be extended until December 31, as the Covid-19 pandemic shows no sign of abating.

Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin said the situation remains under control, but in the event of a spike in cases in certain localities, the government will implement targeted MCOs, as it has done before.

“For your benefit, the government has decided that the RMCO be extended until December 31, 2020,” Muhyiddin said in a special public address.

“Although the RMCO has been extended, I am confident everyone’s lives will not be disrupted as daily activities can still continue as usual, with the new normal and adherence to standard operating procedures (SOP) in place,” he added.

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“What remains important is for everyone to continue acclimatising themselves to wearing face masks, washing hands, always maintaining self-hygiene, and avoiding crowded places. I believe this has already been done, and will continue to be the case until Covid-19 is successfully controlled.”

Given the importance of face masks as a daily necessity, the prime minister said the Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Ministry is currently negotiating with manufacturers and suppliers to reduce their prices.

“Should the negotiations succeed, the price of face masks will be more reasonable than now, and will slightly reduce the burden on everyone.

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“At the same time, nearly all sectors have already been permitted to operate, excluding a small number such as night clubs and entertainment centres as these are places where the new normal is difficult to uphold,” he said.

Similarly, foreign tourists are still prohibited from entering the country so as to prevent the emergence of import cases in Malaysia.

“Sporting activities are permitted, but without the involvement of international participants and spectators. In addition, throughout the RMCO, the Covid-19 Fund managed by the National Disaster Management Agency has also been extended until December 31 and which will go to aid Covid-19 victims and prepare the necessities to control the pandemic,” Muhyiddin said.

In concluding, he called upon the public in the spirit of the 63rd National Day to always be aware of their responsibilities in helping to control the spread of Covid-19.

“We are all frontliners in the war to contain the pandemic. I believe if we play our roles in preventing the spread of Covid-19, the nation will recover and be free from it all the faster,” Muhyiddin said.

The Health Ministry recorded 10 new Covid-19 cases in the country today with eight being imported cases and two local transmissions.

In his daily Covid-19 press statement, its director-general Tan Sri Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah said that there are a total of 9,306 cases currently, with 151 active cases that are being treated.