COVID-19 Cases Soar, Malaysia Will Start Lockdown Tomorrow And Prohibits The Homecoming

JAKARTA - Malaysian authorities decided to implement lockdown and prohibit the tradition of homecoming ahead of Eid Al-Fitr 1442 Hijri, along with the spike in COVID-19 cases.

Quoting Worldometer data, as of Wednesday, May 5, Malaysia recorded a total of 420.632 cases of COVID-19 infection with 1.574 deaths. Yesterday, Malaysia recorded 3.120 new cases of infection.

A number of hospitals in Malaysia experienced a surge in critical patients, with occupancy rates of more than 70 percent. Among them are Tengku Ampuan Rahimah Klang Hospital, Kuala Lumpur Hospital and Sungai Buloh Hospital.

"The health care capacity in the Klang Valley (covering Kuala Lumpur, Putrajaya and Selangor) is worrying", said Director-General of Health, Malaysian Ministry of Health Dr. Tan Sri. Noor Hisham Abdullah cited from the Malay Mail.

Meanwhile, the spike in COVID-19 cases has prompted, Malaysian authorities to implement a full motion control order (MCO) or lockdown from Thursday, May 6 tomorrow for the next 12 days.

However, this lockdown only applies in six of the nine districts in the State of Selangor. Two ministers authorized in the Malaysian Cabinet confirmed that the lockdown would not be extended as speculated.

Cited from Straitstimes, Malaysian Defense Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob, in his statement on Tuesday, May 4, denied the speculation of expanding the lockdown.

"Districts in Selangor that will be placed under full motion control (MCO) orders are Petaling, Hulu Langat, Gombak, Klang, Kuala Langat, and Sepang", he explained.

However, in view of the impact of the previous MCO which affected the Malaysian economy. Business activities in the six districts remain permitted with restrictions on shorter working hours.

Meanwhile, inter-district travel is prohibited for these districts in Selangor, adding to the inter-state travel ban for all of Malaysia.

Apart from that, the Malaysian Government has also banned the annual tradition of 'Balik Kampung'/Homecoming during Eid al-Fitr 1442 Hijri or for the second time in a row.

However, the Malaysian Government has relaxed home visits for those living in the same states and federal territories, except for those in the six districts of Selangor with high infections.