Malaysia strengthens measures to cope with COVID-19 wave

Malaysia’s Health Ministry (MOH) has reported 1,230 COVID-19 cases between May 12 and 18, an increase of 14.8% from the 1,071 cases reported in the week earlier. However, no new deaths from the disease have been reported since April 25.

Malaysia’s Health Ministry (MOH) has reported 1,230 COVID-19 cases between May 12 and 18. (Photo: Reuters)
Malaysia’s Health Ministry (MOH) has reported 1,230 COVID-19 cases between May 12 and 18. (Photo: Reuters)

Kuala Lumpur (VNA) – Malaysia’s Health Ministry (MOH) has reported 1,230 COVID-19 cases between May 12 and 18, an increase of 14.8% from the 1,071 cases reported in the week earlier. However, no new deaths from the disease have been reported since April 25.

The MOH said Malaysia is unaffected by Singapore’s new surge in COVID-19 cases as the country has only recorded two cases of Singapore’s dominant variants (KP.2.1 and KP.1.1) since March.Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad said the ministry is closely monitoring the COVID-19 situation in Singapore following an increase in the number of infections in the island state.

The ministry is tracking the trajectory of the recent wave of a two-fold increase in COVID-19 cases reported by Singapore, he said in an X post.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) has listed KP.2 as a currently circulating variant under monitoring, but there’s no indication that it will cause more severe diseases than the other circulating variants.By the end of 2022, about 1.13 million out of the 1.86 million Malaysians who have migrated overseas resided in Singapore. On holidays or long holidays, the land border crossing between the two countries are always overcrowded./.

VNA

See more

Helicopter carrying eight reported missing in Indonesia

Helicopter carrying eight reported missing in Indonesia

Indonesian authorities are urgently conducting a search and rescue operation after receiving reports that a helicopter carrying eight people suddenly lost contact on the morning of April 16 in West Kalimantan on the island of Borneo.

Malaysia’s job losses surge 47% in the first quarter of 2026 (Photo: AFP)

Malaysia's layoffs rise 47% in first quarter

The report, based on figures from Malaysia’s Social Security Organisation, showed layoffs peaked in January with around 10,700 cases before easing to 7,500 in February and 5,900 in March. Despite the slowdown toward the end of the quarter, the total remained significantly higher than the roughly 16,500 layoffs recorded in the same period of 2025.

People take part in the Songkran Festival in Bangkok, Thailand, on April 13, 2026. (Photo: Xinhua/VNA)

Thailand's tourism sector enjoys windfall during Songkran Festival 2026

TAT estimated that around 500,000 foreign tourists visited Thailand during the April 11–15 period, generating about 8.1 billion THB, a 2% year-on-year increase. Domestic travel is projected at 5.96 million trips, up 7%, contributing about 22.25 billion THB, an annual rise of 8%.

The sixth ASEAN Digital Ministers’ Meeting (ADGMIN) approves the Hanoi Declaration on digital cooperation, reaffirming the bloc’s goals and principles as outlined in the 1967 Bangkok Declaration and the ASEAN Charter. (Photo: ASEAN/Facebook)

ASEAN, Japan envision joint AI development

Amid intensifying US–China rivalry and deepening technological fragmentation, ASEAN and Japan have strong potential to collaborate in developing more inclusive and comprehensive artificial intelligence (AI) models, according to an article published on fulcrum.sg on April 14.

At the video conference (Photo: Nation Thailand)

Thailand backs Japan’s push for energy security

At the summit, Japan announced a new initiative to support AZEC member countries through low-interest loans for the procurement of crude oil, refined fuel and essential goods, alongside broader fiscal support measures.