Coronavirus Malaysia: PM blames Sabah election as among causes of huge infection surge
- After weeks of single or double digit rises, Malaysia on Tuesday recorded 691 new cases – the third record daily increase in the space of four days
- Despite the surge, a national lockdown was not being considered, Muhyiddin Yassin said from quarantine after one of his ministers tested positive
Malaysia’s daily virus case tally has skyrocketed since the election, as voters and politicians alike went back and forth between Peninsular Malaysia and the Bornean state of Sabah for hustings and polls. After weeks of single or double digit rises, the country on Tuesday registered a record 691 new cases, bringing the national total up to 10,427 with 141 deaths. Tuesday’s record increase was the third one in the space of just four days.
Despite the surge, the Muhyiddin said his government was not yet considering the implementation of a lockdown like the one imposed between March and May.
“Such measures, if undertaken again, could have a huge effect and might cause societal and economic collapse,” he said in a special address that briefly overlapped with the Health Ministry’s daily briefing, asking citizens to voluntarily stay at home when possible instead.