KUALA LUMPUR: Full-scale movement control order (MCO) is off the cards even if the country is faced with another outbreak of Covid-19, says Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein.

       The Defence Minister however did not rule out the possibility of taking stricter measures such as halting movement in and out of the country.

       "We will take the necessary steps based on the level of risk of other countries.

       "This is based on the briefing by Health Minister Khairy Jamaluddin that 245 Omicron cases have been recorded in Malaysia so far," he told reporters on Tuesday (Jan 11).

       He said a large number of these infections were from those who came back from overseas.

       "I need to stress that the large-scale MCO that we all faced previously will not be re-implemented.

       "This is done in our efforts to transition to the endemic phase that should have been announced early this year," he said, adding that the announcement has been postponed due to the spread of the Omicron variant.

       He said the government also wanted to look into the effects of the recent floods as well as the travellers’ clusters.

       "For now, the Omicron variant is seen as not having serious effects on its hosts but the rate of infection is extreme.

       "As long as it does not put pressure on our healthcare system, especially intensive care units, I feel this is not troubling," he said.

       The Defence Minister also said the standard operating procedures (SOP) for Thaipusam and Chinese New Year celebrations will be announced soon.