Spectre of lockdown looms again in Malaysia after record coronavirus surge

The country reported 3,027 new Covid-19 cases on Thursday, its highest ever daily total, prompting experts to recommend swift action

Automated contact tracing and bans on public gatherings were among the measures mooted, with a lockdown seen as a short-term option with a high economic and social cost

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Malaysia’s Thursday record of new cases was a sharp uptick from the single-digit increases marked in July after Malaysia emerged from a months-long movement control order. Photo: EPA

Published: 7:05pm, 8 Jan 2021Updated: 7:05pm, 8 Jan 2021

Surging Covid-19 numbers in Malaysia have alarmed public health experts, who are urging the government to take swift action amid speculation another nationwide lockdown will be instituted to throttle the spread of the disease.

The country on Thursday recorded 3,027 new cases, its highest ever daily total and a sharp uptick from the single-digit increases marked in July after Malaysia emerged from a months-long movement control order.

Noor Hisham Abdullah, the nation’s top health official, told a press conference the health system was “at a breaking point” due to the increase in cases.

“We may not be able to accommodate patients in our facilities. We are looking into how we can enhance our health care system. But best would be to … reduce the load,” he said, mooting a “targeted” lockdown approach he likened to Singapore’s “circuit breaker” last year. “Discussions are ongoing and probably we will make some decisions as soon as possible.”

According to health minister Adham Baba, the government is currently fine tuning its national vaccination plan, which is scheduled to start next month and will make inoculations available to all Malaysians.