All states in the country are now COVID-19 yellow zones, with no green zone in sight.

Health director-general Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah revealed this in an infographic released yesterday evening.

As per the Health Ministry's classification, yellow zones are areas with between one and 20 active COVID-19 cases, while a green zone is one free of the virus.

Yesterday, a total of 89 new COVID-19 cases, and two deaths, were recorded, bringing the total number of infections and fatalities in the country to 11,224, and 136, respectively.

Only Malacca and Putrajaya did not record any new cases yesterday, after one cases each were reported the day before.

Out of the 89 new cases, the majority (35) were from Sabah or those involving returnees from the state, followed by Kedah (13), Selangor (10) and Johor (8), among others.

Noor Hisham also revealed that 28 patients recovered from the disease yesterday, bringing the recovery rate since the outbreak to 9,967 people, or 88.8 percent of the total number of cases.

Meanwhile, the Malaysian Association of Tour and Travel Agents (MATTA) has advised against travelling to Sabah, which is currently the epicentre of the pandemic, for now.

MATTA president Tan Kok Liang was quoted saying by The Star that travel plans to the state should be put off until at least mid-October.

"It is a setback for the tourism industry, which has been badly affected, but we hope this MCO will curtail the spread of Covid-19.

"There will be no Cuti-Cuti Malaysia in Sabah for the time being," he reportedly said.

Four districts in Sabah, namely Lahad Datu, Tawau, Kunak and Semporna, have been placed under the Targeted Enhanced Movement Control Order (TEMCO) from Sept 29 to Oct 12.

In line with travel limitation to the state, Malaysia Airlines would also reduce its flight frequency to Tawau, reported the daily further.

"In view of this (TEMCO), we will reduce the frequency from two flights to only one flight per day from Kuala Lumpur to Tawau.

“The affected passengers are allowed to postpone their travel as stated in the travel advisory for booking extension and travel flexibility."

Likewise, Malindo Air also said it would allow passengers to defer their flights without penalties, and reduced its flight from Kuala Lumpur to Kinabalu from seven times a week, to three times a week.

Individuals returning from Sabah who test negative for Covid-19 are currently required to quarantine themselves at home.


Source: Berita Harian, The Star
Photo source: Astro Awani