KUALA LUMPUR, March 27 (Xinhua) -- A total of 26 people have died of the COVID-19 in Malaysia as of Friday with 130 newly confirmed cases, bringing the total to 2,161, said the Health Ministry.
Health Ministry Director-General Noor Hisham Abdullah said at a press briefing that among the infections, 259 have been cured and discharged from hospital, while 54 are currently being held in intensive care and 34 of those are in need of assisted breathing.
Noor Hisham added that an enhanced movement control order (MCO) will be implemented in two areas in the Kluang district in Johor state after a spike in cases in those areas.
"The purpose of the order is to contain the spread of COVID-19 from getting out of the area and to break the chain of infections. This measure will enable active case detection to be carried out from house to house, besides allowing disinfection activities in those areas."
The Health Ministry targets collecting 300 samples everyday starting Friday. The sampling will prioritize close contacts, symptomatic individuals and groups who are most at risk first, he said.
The Malaysian government announced the measures after 61 of 88 new cases in Johor state were traced to the two areas.
The enhanced order involves 3,570 residents from 650 families and will be implemented between March 27 to April 9. Visitors will also not be allowed into both areas while all business activities will be stopped and food will be supplied to residents by the government.
Malaysia is implementing a "movement control order" till April 14 including closing shops and schools as well as imposing travel bans. It called for residents to stay at home in an effort to contain the COVID-19 outbreak.
Malaysian Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin announced a 250-billion-ringgit (57.54 billion U.S. dollars) economic stimulus package on Thursday to soften the impact of COVID-19, including special allowances for healthcare providers, cash aid and microcredit scheme for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).
