Malaysia declares nationwide lockdown to stem rise in COVID-19 cases

By Christine Fabro

Malaysia’s Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin said on May 11 that the country will be imposing a nationwide movement control order (MCO) from May 12 to June 7 to halt the rising number of COVID-19 cases in the country.

The Prime Minister said the spike in COVID-19 cases began in mid-April, the start of the Ramadan fasting month.

This will be the third major lockdown to be implemented nationwide since the onset of the pandemic in Malaysia – the strictest since March last year.

Inter-state and inter-district travels are also banned except for work, emergencies, medical appointments, visiting of spouses, and for vaccination appointments.

Malaysia’s active coronavirus cases are at 37,396 as of May 10, more than double the 15,000 cases in the past month. -jlo