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AFP
Kuala Lumpur
Malaysia reported 277 coronavirus cases Thursday, its biggest daily increase, due to a growing outbreak at a migrant detention centre, sparking accusations the government is failing to protect foreign workers.
The Southeast Asian nation has had a relatively small outbreak, reporting 8,247 cases in total, and imposed a weeks-long lockdown that largely kept the situation under control.
But cases have been increasing rapidly since last week at centres where foreigners are detained on suspicion of being in the country illegally.
Relatively affluent Malaysia attracts migrants from poorer Asian countries, including Myanmar, Bangladesh and Indonesia, who work in sectors ranging from agriculture to manufacturing. Of Thursday’s cases, 270 were among foreigners held at one detention centre in the capital Kuala Lumpur, senior health ministry official Noor Hisham Abdullah said.
That centre has now reported more than 600 cases, while over 100 infections have been recorded at several other migrant detention facilities.
Kuala Lumpur
Malaysia reported 277 coronavirus cases Thursday, its biggest daily increase, due to a growing outbreak at a migrant detention centre, sparking accusations the government is failing to protect foreign workers.
The Southeast Asian nation has had a relatively small outbreak, reporting 8,247 cases in total, and imposed a weeks-long lockdown that largely kept the situation under control.
But cases have been increasing rapidly since last week at centres where foreigners are detained on suspicion of being in the country illegally.
Relatively affluent Malaysia attracts migrants from poorer Asian countries, including Myanmar, Bangladesh and Indonesia, who work in sectors ranging from agriculture to manufacturing. Of Thursday’s cases, 270 were among foreigners held at one detention centre in the capital Kuala Lumpur, senior health ministry official Noor Hisham Abdullah said.
That centre has now reported more than 600 cases, while over 100 infections have been recorded at several other migrant detention facilities.
