A Malaysian soldier assists the police to strengthen the enforcement of "movement control order" to contain the COVID-19 outbreak, in Putrajaya, Malaysia, March 22, 2020. Ten individuals have died of the COVID-19 in Malaysia as of Sunday with 123 newly confirmed cases, and the total cases of the COVID-19 in the country now stand at 1,306, according to the Health Ministry. Malaysia is implementing a two-week "movement control order" 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. The Malaysian Army began to assist the police from Sunday to strengthen the enforcement of the restrictions. (Photo by Chong Voon Chung/Xinhua)
KUALA LUMPUR, March 22 (Xinhua) --Ten individuals have died of the COVID-19 in Malaysia as of Sunday with 123 newly confirmed cases, and the total cases of the COVID-19 in the country now stand at 1,306, according to the Health Ministry.
One of the fatalities was a 74-year-old man who had attended a large-scale religious event held near the capital of Kuala Lumpur from late February to early March, Health Ministry Director-General Noor Hisham Abdullah told a press briefing.
Noor Hisham said of the new cases, at least 74 were traced to the same event. The number of cases in the country has spiked following the event.
The other fatality was a 48-year old man who had recently returned from Turkey.
Out of the total cases, 139 have been cured and discharged from hospital, while 46 are currently being held in intensive care and 22 of those are in need of assisted breathing.
Malaysia's Foreign Ministry announced in a statement having successfully repatriating Malaysian nationals from abroad, including 212 from Uzbekistan, 55 from Iran, 372 from India.
Malaysia is implementing a two-week "movement control order" 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. The Malaysian Army began to assist the police from Sunday to strengthen the enforcement of the restrictions.
