Full lockdown in Ipoh from May 22 as Covid-19 cases continue to soar in Malaysia

The lockdown will last a week from Saturday

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia – Ipoh, Malaysia's fourth-largest city, will be under complete lockdown for two weeks starting on Saturday (May 22), as the federal government contemplates expanding the draconian step across the country.

Senior Minister for Security Ismail Sabri Yaakob made the declaration on Thursday as the Covid-19 crisis worsened, with a record 6,806 new illnesses and 59 fatalities reported.

Between May 5 and May 18, the Health Ministry documented a 119.3 percent rise in cases in the four districts.

The National Security Council (NSC), led by Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin, will meet on

Friday to debate whether a full lockdown, similar to the one imposed between March and

May last year, should be implemented across the nation.

The government is optimistic, though, that the aim of inoculating 80% of the adult population by the end of the year to establish herd immunity will be met.