KUALA LUMPUR — Malaysia announced on Friday it will impose a nationwide lockdown for the first time in over a year as it battles a rapidly escalating coronavirus outbreak that has strained the country’s healthcare system.
Officials believe more infectious variants have contributed to the surge, as well as gatherings in the Muslim-majority country during the holy month of Ramadan and Eid al-Fitr holiday earlier this month.
After a new daily record of 8,290 infections Friday, Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin’s office announced the entire country would enter a “total lockdown” from Tuesday.
This involves the “complete shutdown of all social and economic sectors”, with only busines…
Keep on reading: Malaysia announces national lockdown to battle virus surge