ALOR SETAR: Playing sepak takraw, holding barbecue parties and travelling – inter-district – illegally.

       All this could have contributed to the rise in Covid-19 cases here, says Comm Datuk Kamarul Zaman Mamat.

       The Kedah police chief said the standard operating procedure (SOP) violations had put a damper on the state’s efforts to minimise Covid-19 infection risks.

       He said police had intensified enforcement and monitoring in the state to ensure SOP compliance, adding that those flouting the rules would either be given a stern warning or fined.

       “The public must play their roles in our fight against the disease.

       “If they don’t adhere to the SOP, we will see an increase in Covid-19 cases in the state,” he said when contacted.

       Kedah has seen its daily cases above the 1,000 mark for this month.

       It breached the 2,000 mark for the first time on Thursday with 2,143 cases in a day.

       Yesterday, it recorded 1,807 positive cases, bringing the total to 65,240 cases in the state so far.

       Comm Kamarul said his men were also keeping a close watch on 12,000 persons-under-surveillance (PUS) in 12 districts of the state.

       “These PUS have been ordered to conduct self-quarantine in their homes.

       “There are about 12,000 of them and we have been monitoring between 700 and 1,000 of them daily to ensure that they follow the quarantine order,” he said.

       Comm Kamarul said the public could be the eyes and ears of the police should they come across any PUS who breach the quarantine order.

       “They can inform us if they know of any PUS who violate the quarantine order.

       “We are not only focusing on the public, but the industrial sector where factories are allowed to operate during the National Recovery Plan,” he said.

       Kedah Health director Dr Othman Warijo said as of Thursday, a total of 796,036 people or 51.7% of the adult population in the state had received their first dose of the vaccines.

       He added that 442,711 people or 28.7% of the adult population were fully vaccinated. There are 2,185,100 people in the state.

       He urged the public to honour their appointment dates and get jabbed to protect themselves and their families.