17 March 2020,
Malaysia’s Prime Minister Muhyiddini Yassin has announced a two-week lockdown in the country in a bid to slow the spread of the new coronavirus.
Prime Minister Yassin said all schools, businesses, religious institutions, and government offices will be shut from Wednesday until March 31, international media reports have said.
He said all gatherings will be banned. According to him, only essential services including banks, supermarkets, pharmacies and gas stations will be allowed to operate.
PM Yassin also said Malaysians will not be allowed to travel overseas. All foreign visitors will be banned, he added.
According to him, all Malaysians returning from overseas have to undergo self-quarantine for 14 days.
Malaysia has so far recorded 315 new cases of the virus in the past two days totaling 553 — the highest number in Southeast Asia.
(With inputs from Agencies)
