Coronavirus: Malaysia, Philippines extends restrictions; Indonesia, Japan curb travel to contain new strain
- Meanwhile, three cases of the particularly infectious coronavirus variant that recently emerged in the UK have been confirmed in South Korea
- Thailand also announced its first coronavirus death in nearly two months and tightened restrictions on entertainment businesses in Bangkok
Asian governments have moved to tighten movement and travel restrictions to contain the threat of the new, potentially more contagious strain of coronavirus.
Meanwhile, three cases of the variant that recently emerged in the UK have been confirmed in South Korea, health authorities said.
Malaysia on Monday extended a conditional movement control order in capital Kuala Lumpur, Sabah and Selangor by two weeks to help contain the spread of coronavirus infections.
The restrictions that had been due to end on December 31 will continue until January 14. Although interstate and inter-districts travel will remain unaffected, borders will stay closed for foreign tourists, he said.
Covid-19 cases in Malaysia topped 100,000 for the first time on Christmas Eve, and daily cases hit a record 2,235 on Saturday. The government is struggling to stem a fresh wave that emerged in September.
The government has not ruled out further tightening of the standard operating procedures aimed at preventing the spread of infections if violations are widespread. The nation added 1,594 new Covid cases on Monday.
Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte also on Monday extended partial coronavirus restrictions in the capital, Manila, until the end of January.