Coronavirus: Malaysia’s lockdown extended, Philippines negotiating 178 million vaccine doses
- The lockdown will now continue until February 18, says Defence Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob
- Meanwhile, the Philippines is negotiating for enough vaccine doses to inoculate 92 million people, while Japan’s state of emergency will now end on March 7
Malaysia’s government on Tuesday extended a lockdown and broad movement restrictions by two weeks, as the Southeast Asian nation grapples with a surge in coronavirus infections that has pushed the cumulative total past 200,000 cases.
The lockdown, which covered all but one state and was to end on February 4, will now continue until February 18, Defence Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob said.
“The health ministry has confirmed that daily cases in all states are still showing a rising trend … the sporadic spread in the community is also high,” Ismail Sabri said in a televised address.
The lockdown will allow some leeway for businesses to continue operating, especially microenterprises and small-time traders, but continue to bar interstate travel and social activities, the minister said.
Malaysia reported over 4,000 new coronavirus cases on Monday, raising the cumulative total to nearly 220,000 cases including 770 deaths.
