COVID-19: Nationwide lockdown declared in Malaysia

COLOMBO (News 1st): Malaysia’s Prime Minister has declared a nationwide lockdown with effect from Wednesday (May 12), until June 7th in an effort to contain the rise in coronavirus cases, state media Bernama News Agency reported. According to foreign media reports, Malaysia’s Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin announced the lockdown, known as the "Movement Control Order" or MCO, saying "Malaysia is facing the third wave of the pandemic which can trigger a national crisis." The lockdown comes while Malaysia is still under a state of emergency, which was declared by the prime minister back in January to contain the pandemic. The prime minister added that Malaysia’s daily COVID-19 cases have exceeded 4,000 as of Monday (May 10); there are 37,390 active coronavirus cases and the death toll stands at 1,700 as of May 10, reported foreign media. Yassin had also warned of “the emergence of new variants with higher infection rates” that could pressure the country’s healthcare infrastructure. Under the nationwide lockdown, all social gatherings will be banned along with inter-state and inter-district travel. The Eid al-Fitr prayers will also be limited to 50 people for mosques that can accommodate 1,000 people and 20 for mosques that accommodate less. The limit also applies to Friday prayers. Restaurants will not be allowed dine-in customers, only take-aways are permitted. No weddings or social functions are permitted during the lockdown. Educational institutes will also remain closed. The first nationwide lockdown in Malaysia was imposed from March 18 to May 3, 2020.