COVID-19 Report: Singapore pulls the ‘circuit breaker;’ Malaysia fines lockdown offenders

A worker disinfects a mosque in Malaysia in a photo dated March 30, 2020. Photo: Noor Hisham Abdullah/Facebook
A worker disinfects a mosque in Malaysia in a photo dated March 30, 2020. Photo: Noor Hisham Abdullah/Facebook

The daily creep of legal measures to fight COVID-19 continues across Southeast Asia, with Singapore enacting so-called circuit-breaker measures and Malaysia imposing fines on travel-lockdown scofflaws. 

The COVID-19 Temporary Measures Act was passed in Singapore yesterday, making it illegal to hold gatherings of any size either at home or in public. Other measures include the closure of all nonessential businesses. In Malaysia, those who violate its Movement Control Order now face RM1,000 (US$230) fines. 

Thailand is seeing a surge of new infections among Muslims who recently attended a religious gathering in Indonesia, while Hong Kong reported a 2-year-old among its newest patients. 

Prisoners in the Philippines are petitioning for limited liberty amid coronavirus fears on prison grounds.

More updates from Coconuts newsrooms in Southeast Asia and Hong Kong:

Singapore

  • Singapore has ordered everyone entering the country to go straight into two-week quarantine in places like hotels before they can return home. This initially applied to only those returning from the United Kingdom and the United States. 
  • Singapore is legally enforcing what are being marketed as “circuit breaker” measures under the COVID-19 Temporary Measures Act, which was passed in Parliament yesterday. It makes it illegal to hold gatherings of any size, either in public or at home. 
  • Confirmed coronavirus cases rose to 1,481 after 106 new cases were reported last night. 
  • The number of cases across eight virus-stricken foreign worker dormitories has risen to 200.

Malaysia

  • Malaysia will be giving out free face masks to all households soon. No specific date was mentioned in Defence Minister Ismail Sabri’s announcement. 
  • Those who violate the Movement Control Order now face RM1,000 fines (US$230). 
  • Confirmed coronavirus cases surpassed 4,000 today. Malaysia has now reported 4,119 infections and 65 deaths since the outbreak began.

Thailand

  • More than half of the nearly 80 Thai Muslims who returned from a religious gathering in Indonesia were found infected with COVID-19, health officials announced today. 
  • Confirmed coronavirus cases rose to 2,369 infections and the death toll to 30 after 111 new COVID-19 cases and three deaths were reported today.

Indonesia

  • A ferry has been rejected by Indonesia over coronavirus fears. A video of passengers jumping into the waters has gone viral.
  • Confirmed coronavirus cases rose to 2,956 and the death toll to 240.

Philippines

  • A group of Filipino political prisoners, including the elderly and sick, today petitioned the Supreme Court to ask for their temporary liberty, due to coronavirus fears on prison grounds. 
  • More than 7,000 delegates who were possibly exposed to a COVID-19 positive government official at school events have cleared their two-week quarantine without displaying symptoms related to the coronavirus.
  • Confirmed coronavirus cases rose to 3,870 and the death toll to 182.

Hong Kong

  • Hong Kong unveiled a HK$130 billion (US$17 billion) stimulus package to help the economy during the COVID-19 pandemic. Funds will mostly go into paying up to half of Hong Kong workers’ wages. The package is in addition to the HK$30 billion relief package announced in February. 
  • Confirmed coronavirus cases rose to 960 with 25 new cases, including a 2-year-old.

 



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