Malaysia holds urgent meeting over spike in COVID-19 infections

Malaysia’s National Security Council convened a special meeting on October 3 after the number of COVID-19 infections in the country hit its highest level, reported by the national news agency Bernama.
Malaysia holds urgent meeting over spike in COVID-19 infections ảnh 1People wear masks in Kuala Lumpur (Photo: AFP/VNA)

Kuala Lumpur (VNA) – Malaysia’s National SecurityCouncil convened a special meeting on October 3 after the number of COVID-19infections  in the country hit its highestlevel, reported by the national news agency Bernama.

After the meeting chaired by Prime Minister MuhyiddinYassin, Senior Defence Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob said the government wouldnot re-impose a nationwide Movement Control Order (MCO) to prevent the diseasefrom spreading.

He said this was because most of the cases involved prisoninmates in Kedah and Sabah, which can be considered as isolated.

The government would not enforce an inter-state orinter-district travel ban nationwide, as the number of positive cases in manystates were still small and under control, the official added.

On October 2, Malaysia recorded 287 new COVID-19 infections,the highest number in a single day ever recorded since the beginning of thepandemic in the country.

Also on October 3, the Philippines’ Health Ministry reported2,674 new infections, the highest daily increase in five days, and 62additional deaths. The ministry said the total confirmed cases in the countryhave increased to 319,330, the highest in Southeast Asia, while deaths havereached 5,678, a third of which were recorded in the past 30 days.

Meanwhile, Singapore posted six new infections, the lowestdaily figure since March 10. Of the new cases, one is a community infection andfour are imported cases. In recent months, the number of new cases in thecountry fell significantly, with the authorities placing outbreaks at migrantworkers' dormitories under control.

In Indonesia, 4,007 new coronavirus infections and 83 moredeaths were reported, bringing the nation’s total infections to 299,506 andfatalities to 11,055./.
VNA

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