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dpa
Bangkok
Malaysia’s Health Ministry reported almost 4,000 new cases of the novel coronavirus on Tuesday, the third day since January 6 that a new daily record has been set.
The 3,909 new cases announced took the total since the outbreak began to over 141,000, with 30,390 cases listed by the ministry as “active.” The related death toll is relatively low, with the four new fatalities announced by the ministry on Tuesday taking the total to 559.
According to data compiled by consultancy Capital Economics and published on Tuesday, Malaysia, a nation of around 32 million people, has recorded more cases per million people over the past seven days than any other Asian country - double the next highest in neighbouring Indonesia.
Health Minister Adham Baba said on Tuesday that the rise in numbers could stretch the health-care system. Those who test positive for the virus but who are asymptomatic will be quarantined at home from now on, instead of being hospitalized, he said.
The record caseload announcement came shortly after the country’s king and prime minister agreed that a state of emergency will be imposed until August in response to the pandemic.
The emergency rule declaration came one day after the government said that six regions will be returned to lockdown for two weeks from Wednesday.
Tens of thousands of people across Malaysia have been driven from their homes by monsoon flooding, which Muhyiddin also cited in his explanation for the emergency declaration.
Malaysia’s opposition on Tuesday accused the premier, who faces a revolt by allies, of “hiding” behind the declaration, which suspends parliament.
Bangkok
Malaysia’s Health Ministry reported almost 4,000 new cases of the novel coronavirus on Tuesday, the third day since January 6 that a new daily record has been set.
The 3,909 new cases announced took the total since the outbreak began to over 141,000, with 30,390 cases listed by the ministry as “active.” The related death toll is relatively low, with the four new fatalities announced by the ministry on Tuesday taking the total to 559.
According to data compiled by consultancy Capital Economics and published on Tuesday, Malaysia, a nation of around 32 million people, has recorded more cases per million people over the past seven days than any other Asian country - double the next highest in neighbouring Indonesia.
Health Minister Adham Baba said on Tuesday that the rise in numbers could stretch the health-care system. Those who test positive for the virus but who are asymptomatic will be quarantined at home from now on, instead of being hospitalized, he said.
The record caseload announcement came shortly after the country’s king and prime minister agreed that a state of emergency will be imposed until August in response to the pandemic.
The emergency rule declaration came one day after the government said that six regions will be returned to lockdown for two weeks from Wednesday.
Tens of thousands of people across Malaysia have been driven from their homes by monsoon flooding, which Muhyiddin also cited in his explanation for the emergency declaration.
Malaysia’s opposition on Tuesday accused the premier, who faces a revolt by allies, of “hiding” behind the declaration, which suspends parliament.
