After four consecutive days of three-digit increase in reported COVID-19 cases, Malaysia has a total of 790 cases as of Mar 18, 5pm. According to MOH, there were 190 cases reported on March 15, 125 cases reported on March 16, and 120 cases reported on March 17. a drastic increase for the past 3 days.
The number of COVID-19 patients under intensive care has also increased from 12 to 15. As of March 17, 2 people have died in Malaysia as a result of COVID-19.
The majority of these new cases reported have been traced back to the ‘tabligh’ religious gathering in Sri Petaling mosque which held on 27 Feb to 1 Mar, where at least 16,000 attendees, including 1,500 foreigners came in contact with one another.
Out of Malaysia’s 673 confirmed coronavirus cases, nearly two-thirds are linked to the four-day meeting, Mosque spoke person said” It is not clear who brought the virus there in the first place.”
“That Tablighi event in KL… could also cause a regional spike and it was irresponsible for the authorities to have allowed it to be held,” Singapore diplomat Bilahari Kausikan said on his Facebook page.
Malaysia’s currently under a Movement Control Order from March 18 until March 31. Failure to comply to the restricted movement measures can result in a fine, up to six months in prison, or both.
Healthcare professionals are also urging Malaysians to stay home under the hashtags #DudukRumah and #KitaJagaKita.
Please y’all. Just stay home for these next two weeks.