2020 coronavirus pandemic in Malaysia

2020 coronavirus pandemic in Malaysia

Confirmed cases 100–199   Confirmed cases 50–100   Confirmed cases 10–49   Confirmed cases 1–9
Disease	COVID-19
Virus strain	SARS-CoV-2
Location	Malaysia
First case	Sungai Buloh, Selangor
Arrival date	25 January 2020 (1 month, 3 weeks and 1 day)
Origin	Wuhan, Hubei, China
Confirmed cases	790
Suspected cases‡	9799
Recovered	60
Deaths	2
Total ILI cases	17
Official website
www.moh.gov.my/2019-ncov-wuhan
‡ Suspected cases have not been confirmed as being due to this strain by laboratory tests, although some other strains may have been ruled out.

The 2019–20 coronavirus pandemic was confirmed to have spread to Malaysia on 25 January 2020. As of March 2020, there are 790 confirmed cases. Following the spike of cases in March, the country Yang di-Pertuan Agong has express his greatest concerns over the jump in positive cases. Further measures were subsequently announced by the Prime Minister of Malaysia to counter the further spread of the virus within the country through a live nationwide telecast on 13 March 2020.

With the spread of the virus into all of Malaysian states and federal territories by 16 March, the Malaysian government announced that it has decided to implement a "Movement Control Order" from 18 March to 31 March to curb the further growth of positive cases in the country through social distancing. The Attorney-General's Chambers (AGC) of Malaysia also published a federal gazette on 18 March 2020 that bars individuals from travelling to another place with all states in the country have been gazetted as coronavirus affected area.

Nomenclature

Main article: Coronavirus disease 2019 § Terminology

The Ministry of Health originally referred this disease as the "2019 Novel Coronavirus". Some media referred this disease as "Wuhan Coronavirus". During the onset of the outbreak, the Malaysian media called it the "radang paru-paru Wuhan" in Malay, meaning "Wuhan Pneunomia". Then some media changed the name to "radang paru-paru koronavirus baru" in Malay. Ministry of Health and most media now refer the disease as "COVID-19", as suggested by WHO in 11 February 2020.

Cases

COVID-19 cases in Malaysia  ()      Deaths        Recoveries        Active cases
Date			# of cases
2020-01-24		​ ​ ​ ​ ​	3(n.a.)
2020-01-25		​ ​ ​ ​ ​	4(+33%)
2020-01-26		​ ​ ​ ​ ​	4(=)
2020-01-27		​ ​ ​ ​ ​	6(+50%)
2020-01-28		​ ​ ​ ​ ​	8(+33%)
⋮		​ ​ ​ ​ ​	8(=)
2020-02-03		​ ​ ​ ​ ​	9(+12.5%)
2020-02-04		​ ​ ​ ​ ​	12(+33%)
2020-02-05		​ ​ ​ ​ ​	14(+16%)
2020-02-06		​ ​ ​ ​ ​	14(=)
2020-02-07		​ ​ ​ ​ ​	15(+7%)
2020-02-08		​ ​ ​ ​ ​	16(+6%)
2020-02-09		​ ​ ​ ​ ​	18(+12.5%)
⋮		​ ​ ​ ​ ​	18(=)
2020-02-12		​ ​ ​ ​ ​	19(+5%)
2020-02-13		​ ​ ​ ​ ​	19(=)
2020-02-14		​ ​ ​ ​ ​	21(+10.5%)
2020-02-15		​ ​ ​ ​ ​	21(=)
2020-02-16		​ ​ ​ ​ ​	22(+5%)
2020-02-17		​ ​ ​ ​ ​	22(=)
2020-02-18		​ ​ ​ ​ ​	22(=)
2020-02-19		​ ​ ​ ​ ​	22(=)
⋮		​ ​ ​ ​ ​	22(=)
2020-02-23		​ ​ ​ ​ ​	22(=)
2020-02-24		​ ​ ​ ​ ​	22(=)
⋮		​ ​ ​ ​ ​	22(=)
2020-02-27		​ ​ ​ ​ ​	24(+9%)
2020-02-28		​ ​ ​ ​ ​	25(+4%)
2020-02-29		​ ​ ​ ​ ​	29(+16%)
2020-03-01		​ ​ ​ ​ ​	29(=)
2020-03-02		​ ​ ​ ​ ​	33(+13.8%)
2020-03-03		​ ​ ​ ​ ​	36(+9%)
2020-03-04		​ ​ ​ ​ ​	50(+38.8%)
2020-03-05		​ ​ ​ ​ ​	55(+10%)
2020-03-06		​ ​ ​ ​ ​	83(+50.9%)
2020-03-07		​ ​ ​ ​ ​	93(+12%)
2020-03-08		​ ​ ​ ​ ​	99(+6%)
2020-03-09		​ ​ ​ ​ ​	118(+19.1)
2020-03-10		​ ​ ​ ​ ​	130(+10.1%)
2020-03-11		​ ​ ​ ​ ​	149(+14.6%)
2020-03-12		​ ​ ​ ​ ​	158(+6%)
2020-03-13		​ ​ ​ ​ ​	200(+26.6%)
2020-03-14		​ ​ ​ ​ ​	242(+21%)
2020-03-15		​ ​ ​ ​ ​	428(+76.8%)
2020-03-16		​ ​ ​ ​ ​	553(+29.2%)
2020-03-17		​ ​ ​ ​ ​	673(+21.7%)
2020-03-18		​ ​ ​ ​ ​	790(+17.4%)
Source: Ministry of Health of Malaysia

Summary

Date	Today's case	Cumulative case	Today's recovery	Recovered	Today's death	Death toll	Source
18 March	117	790	11	60	0	2

Cases by states

Currently all administrative regions have confirmed cases. The statistics released before 3 March 2020 detailed each patient information and hospitalized location. Between 3 March until 13 March 2020, no data were released. Since 13 March 2020, Ministry of Health starts to announce cumulative confirmed cases of each state.

New statistic (Since 13 March 2020)

Distribution of cumulative confirmed cases in various administrative regions of Malaysia

Date	Johor	Kedah	Kelantan	Malacca	Negeri Sembilan	Pahang	Penang	Perak	Perlis	Sabah (details)	Sarawak (details)	Selangor (details)	Terengganu	Kuala Lumpur	Putrajaya	Labuan	Source
13/3	20	5	3	1	11	2	7	2	1	15	0	87	0	40	1	2
14/3	22	5	3	6	19	2	7	2	2	26	6	92	0	43	1	2
15/3	N/A
16/3	52	31	18	14	42	19	15	18	8	57	21	144	4	106		4
17/3	77(25)	31	25(7)	17(3)	45(3)	28(9)	23(8)	23(5)	8	82(25)	29(8)	161(17)	7(3)	113(7)		4
18/3	88(11)	36(5)	30(5)	18(1)	45	29(1)	30(7)	28(5)	8	103(21)	49(20)	192(31)	10(3)	119(6)		5(1)

Old statistic (Until 3 March 2020)

Date	Selangor	Johor	Kuala Lumpur	Kedah	N. Sembilan	Total
25 January	3	1				4
26 January
27 January
28 January	1	1		1		3
29 January
30 January		1				1
31 January
1 February
2 February
3 February	1		1			2
4 February
5 February			1	1	2	4
6 February		1				1
7 February			1			1
8 February	1					1
9 February	1					1
10 February
11 February
12 February
13 February			1			1
14 February				2		2
15 February	1					1
16 February
17 February
18 February
19 February
20 February
21 February
22 February
23 February
24 February
25 February
26 February
27 February			1			1
28 February	1		1			2
29 February
1 March	3		1			4
2 March
3 March	5		2			7
4 March						14
5 March						5
6 March						28
7 March						10
8 March						6
Total	17++	4	10++	4	2	99
Date	Selangor	Johor	Kuala Lumpur	Kedah	N. Sembilan	Total

COVID-19 cases in Malaysia

Details of the confirmed cases in Malaysia (As of 10 March 2020)

Case	Relationship group	Date of diagnosis	Date of discharged	Age	Nationality	Patient data	Status
1	G1	25 January 2020	14 February 2020	65	China	A Chinese female national from Wuhan. She was quarantined in a hotel in the forest city of Johor's Iskandar Puteri after entering the Tuas Checkpoint in Singapore with seven other relatives. She is the wife of the first positive infected patient in Singapore. At first she was negatively diagnosed with the new coronavirus, but on 25 January, the Malaysian Health Ministry confirmed she is positive with the new coronavirus where she subsequently warded at Sungai Buloh Hospital of Selangor. She was discharged from hospital on 14 February.	Discharged
2	G1	25 January 2020	14 February 2020	11	China	A Chinese male national from Wuhan. He was quarantined in a hotel in the forest city of Johor's Iskandar Puteri after entering the Tuas Checkpoint in Singapore with seven other relatives. He is the grandson of the first positive infected patient in Singapore. At first he was negatively diagnosed with the new coronavirus, but on 25 January, the Malaysian Health Ministry confirmed he is positive with the new coronavirus where he subsequently warded at Sungai Buloh Hospital of Selangor. He was discharged from hospital on 14 February.	Discharged
3	G1	25 January 2020	14 February 2020	2	China	A Chinese male national from Wuhan. He was quarantined in a hotel in the forest city of Johor's Iskandar Puteri after entering the Tuas Checkpoint in Singapore with seven other relatives. He is the grandson of the first positive infected patient in Singapore. At first he was negatively diagnosed with the new coronavirus, but on 25 January, the Malaysian Health Ministry confirmed he is positive with the new coronavirus. He was discharged from hospital on 14 February.	Discharged
4		25 January 2020	8 February 2020	40	China	A Chinese male national from Wuhan. Took a bus from Singapore to Johor's capital of Johor Bahru on 22 January via the Woodlands Checkpoint in Singapore. He had a fever on 23 January and went to a private hospital for examination before being referred into Sultanah Aminah Hospital. After the diagnosis confirmed he was infected with similar virus, he was referred to Permai Hospital for further treatment. On 8 February after doctors treated him with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) drugs on 28 January, the patient finally allowed to leave the hospital after being tested negative three times.	Discharged
5	G1	28 January 2020	14 February 2020	36	China	A Chinese female national from Wuhan. She was quarantined in a hotel in the forest city of Johor's Iskandar Puteri after entering the Tuas Checkpoint in Singapore with seven other relatives. She is the daughter-in-law of the first positive infected patient in Singapore. Earlier, she had a negative test result and stayed at Sungai Buloh Hospital to take care of her two children who were diagnosed where she was later confirmed to be infected as well. She was discharged from the hospital on 14 February.	Discharged
6		28 January 2020	4 February 2020	4	China	A Chinese female national from Guangzhou. On 26 January, she went to Langkawi with her two-year-old sister despite already being sick. She was later confirmed to be infected on 28 January. On 4 February, she was released from hospital after successfully being cured with her latest tests were negative for the virus.	Discharged
7	G2	28 January 2020	18 February 2020	52	China	A Chinese male national. The husband of the 8th patient. Earlier tested positive for the virus on 30 January and warded at Permai Hospital of Johor. He was discharged from the hospital on 18 February.	Discharged
8	G2	30 January 2020	18 February 2020	49	China	A Chinese female national. The wife of the 7th patient. Earlier tested positive for the virus on 30 January and warded at Permai Hospital of Johor. She was discharged from the hospital on 18 February.	Discharged
9	G3	3 February 2020	17 February 2020	41	Malaysia	A Malaysian male national from Subang Jaya of Selangor. The first local cases involving Malaysian citizen, earlier he travelled to the Grand Hyatt Singapore from 16 to 23 January to attend an international conference with at least one person from Wuhan. On 29 January, he went to a private medical institution in Selangor for medical check-up due to fever and cough. He was subsequently admitted to Sungai Buloh Hospital for isolation and observation on 2 February and was diagnosed with the virus. On 17 February, the patient recovered and was released from hospital, becoming the first Malaysian citizen cured from the virus.	Discharged
10		3 February 2020	9 February 2020	63	China	A Chinese male national from Wuhan. On 18 January, he and his family entered from Xiamen of Fujian via Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA). On 23 January, he developed mild fever and was treated at the Kuala Lumpur Hospital. He was discharged from the hospital on 9 February with the patient was not given any anti-viral medicine to cure the illness. Earlier, two repeat tests conducted on him between 7 and 8 February also showed negative.	Discharged
11	G4	5 February 2020	18 February 2020	45	Malaysia	A Malaysian male national from Wuhan who returned to Malaysia after the evacuation operation on 4 February. He did not show any symptoms during the physical examination procedures at KLIA. Subsequent testing on a quarantine centre in Nilai of Negeri Sembilan revealed that he and his son were positive for the new coronavirus. They were then being referred to an isolation ward at Tuanku Ja'afar Hospital in Seremban for further treatment. He was discharged from the hospital on 18 February.	Discharged
12	G4	5 February 2020	18 February 2020	9	Malaysia	A Malaysian male national from Wuhan who returned to Malaysia after the evacuation operation on 4 February. He did not show any symptoms during the physical examination procedures at KLIA. Subsequent testing on a quarantine centre in Nilai of Negeri Sembilan revealed that he and his father were positive for the new coronavirus. They were then being referred to an isolation ward at Tuanku Ja'afar Hospital in Seremban for further treatment. He was discharged from the hospital on 18 February.	Discharged
13	G3	5 February 2020	22 February 2020	40	Malaysia	A Malaysian female national who recently visited by her infected brother (the 9th patient) in Kedah's Sungai Petani during Chinese New Year on 23 January. She later developed symptoms of fever, throat pain and cough where she went to a private clinic for treatment. A test on her found she is positive with coronavirus and her brother who also positive with the virus was contacted by the country health officials immediately after her diagnosis. The woman became the first locally transmitted case despite her other family members tested negative for the virus. She is warded at the Sultanah Bahiyah Hospital of Kedah and discharged on 22 February after recovering from the virus.	Discharged
14	G5	5 February 2020	24 February 2020	37	China	A Chinese female national from Wuhan. On 25 January, she entered Malaysia with her mother (the 19th patient) and three friends where they toured around Kuala Lumpur. On 1 February, she went to Kuala Lumpur Hospital for treatment because of a slight fever. The doctor allowed her to go home to rest after prescribing the medicine but ordered her and her group to stay indoors and isolate. The county health officials continued to monitor the woman and found that her condition persisted until 5 February, she was referred again to Kuala Lumpur Hospital and later diagnosed with the virus on the same day. She was discharged from the hospital on 24 February.	Discharged
15		6 February 2020	16 February 2020	59	China	A Chinese female national from Wuhan, arrived in Singapore with her husband, son and daughter-in-law on 17 January and passed through Johor Bahru on 21 January to Malaysia. She developed fever on 26 January but did not go to any medical centre for treatment. She only took antipyretic herself and stayed indoors. She had planned to fly with her son and daughter-in-law from Johor Bahru to Guangzhou on 4 February but was not accompanied by her husband due to physical discomfort. On 5 February, the management of her residence reported her condition to the country health department. She was subsequently taken to the hospital and confirmed infected with the virus. She was discharged from hospital on 16 February after recovering.	Discharged
16	G5	7 February 2020	27 February 2020	67	China	A Chinese female national from Wuhan. The mother of 14th infected patient and also a friend to the 19th infected patient. She was discharged from hospital on 27 February.	Discharged
17	G3	8 February 2020	19 February 2020	65	Malaysia	A Malaysian female national who recently eating at the same table with the 9th confirmed patient during the Chinese New Year. Began to feel uncomfortable on 5 February with dizziness and night sweats but no fever. A diagnosis on her was confirmed on 8 February where she herself suffers from various chronic diseases, including hypertension, diabetes, paraplegia etc., and is also a heart patient using pacing. She was discharged from hospital on 19 February.	Discharged
18		9 February 2020	19 February 2020	31	Malaysia	A Malaysian male national from Kuala Langat District of Selangor. He worked in Macau and had been to mainland China on 1 February where he later developed cough symptoms on 7 February. He was admitted to a hospital in Malaysia on the same day and was diagnosed with the virus on 9 February. After achieving a full recovery, he was discharged from the hospital on 19 February.	Discharged
19	G5	13 February 2020	24 February 2020	39	China	A Chinese female national from Wuhan. Arrived in Malaysia with four relatives and friends on 25 January. She had fever and cough on 12 February and was diagnosed with the virus on 13 February. After successfully being cured through treatment, she was discharged from hospital on 24 February.	Discharged
20		14 February 2020	19 February 2020	27	China	A Chinese male national from Guangzhou came to Malaysia to do business on 1 February, went to Thailand on 12 February and passed the border checkpoint in Kedah the following day. When returned to Malaysia, he had a fever and sent to hospital for screening. He was diagnosed positive with the virus on 14 February before being discharged from hospital on 19 February after undergoing treatment.	Discharged
21		14 February 2020	20 February 2020	32	China	A Chinese female national settled in Malaysia and married a local Malaysian. She returned to visit relatives in China from 22 to 30 January before developing sore throat symptoms on 13 February and diagnosed with the virus after being sent to hospital for testing. She was discharged from hospital on 20 February.	Discharged
22		15 February 2020	27 February 2020	83	United States	An American female national who is part of the MS Westerdam passenger. After disembarking from Cambodia on 13 February and passing the medical examination, she was allowed to return into her country by the Cambodian authorities. As Cambodia did not have any direct flights to Europe and the United States, she was flown to Malaysia on 14 February with other 144 passengers on board. She was diagnosed with abnormal temperature screening during arrival in KLIA and subsequently sent to Sungai Buloh Hospital of Selangor for examination where she is confirmed to be infected with the virus. She is still in the hospital for further treatment on other illnesses despite additional tests showing that she is now clear from the virus. She was finally discharged from hospital on 27 February.	Discharged
23		27 February 2020	–	53	Malaysia	A Malaysian female national who arriving back from Japan on 23 February developed fever symptoms the following day, and received treatment in a hospital in Kuala Lumpur. A coronavirus infection test was done, and it was found to be positive on 27 February.	In Patient
24		28 February 2020	6 March 2020	41	Japan	A Japanese female national who works in Malaysia in the capital city of Kuala Lumpur. The woman recently returned to Japan in January and travel to Indonesia in February before being diagnosed with the virus on 28 February. She was subsequently warded at the Kuala Lumpur Hospital. This case is linked to the first positive coronavirus case in Indonesia. After recovering, the woman was discharged from hospital on 6 March.	Discharged
25		28 February 2020	–	54	Italy	An Italian male national who married to a Malaysian spouse. The man has a travel history to Italy from 15–21 February for working purposes. On 28 February after he was diagnosed with the virus, the patient was subsequently warded in Sungai Buloh Hospital of Selangor.	In Patient
26		1 March 2020	–	52	Malaysia	A Malaysian male national who has a travel history to Shanghai of China in mid-January, began to developing sore throat and fever symptoms where he sought treatment at an outpatient private hospital. On 1 March after he was diagnosed with the virus, the patient was subsequently warded in Sungai Buloh Hospital of Selangor. He have attended farewell ceremony for former minister and deputy minister but both of them reported have negative result from the virus.	In Patient
27		1 March 2020	12 March 2020	20	Malaysia	A Malaysian female national who serve as a trainee nurse at a private hospital and treating the 24th case patient without any protection equipment, she began to developing symptoms from 27 February and subsequently warded in Kuala Lumpur Hospital.	Discharged
28		1 March 2020	12 March 2020	45	Malaysia	A Malaysian male national who is a colleague of the 25th patient.	Discharged
29		1 March 2020	–	35	Malaysia	A Malaysian female national who was admitted into a private hospital on 21 February and place in one room with the 24th case patient, whose situation was not known at the time. She was allowed to return home on 25 February but started to feeling unwell and developing cough and fever symptoms by 27 February without seeking any treatment. She was traced during closed contact tracing for the case 24th.	In Patient
30		3 March 2020	–	38	Malaysia	A Malaysian male national who travelled to Australia from 12 to 16 February. He also has close contact with 26th case and was tested positive on 2 March.	In Patient
31		3 March 2020	12 March 2020	50	Malaysia	A Malaysian male national who has close contact with 26th case. He does not has any recent travel record and was tested positive on 2 March.	Discharged
32		3 March 2020	12 March 2020	43	Malaysia	A Malaysian female national who has close contact with 26th case. She does not has any recent travel record and was tested positive on 2 March.	Discharged
33		3 March 2020	–	58	Malaysia	A Malaysian male national who recently travelled to Kuching, Sarawak for a meeting on 16 February. He also has close contact with 26th case and was tested positive on 2 March.	In Patient
34		3 March 2020	12 March 2020	40	Malaysia	A Malaysian male national who serve as a paramedic in Sungai Buloh Hospital, Selangor provided treatment to the 26th case. He was tested positive on 2 March and warded in Sungai Buloh Hospital.	Discharged
35		3 March 2020	12 March 2020	50	Malaysia	A Malaysian female national who recently travelled to Australia from 13 January to 16 February. She also has close contact with 26th case and was tested positive on 2 March. She was warded in Sungai Buloh Hospital.	Discharged
36		3 March 2020	–	49	Malaysia	A Malaysian male national who recently travelled to Egypt from 23 January to 1 February. He also has close contact with 26th case and was tested positive on 2 March. He was warded in Sungai Buloh Hospital.	In Patient
37		4 March 2020	–	63	Malaysia	Related with case number 26.	In Patient
38		4 March 2020	–	60	Malaysia	Related with case number 26.	In Patient
39		4 March 2020	–	45	Malaysia	Friend of 36th case. A second generation patient from 26th case.	In Patient
40		4 March 2020	–	49	Malaysia	Related with case number 26.	In Patient
41		4 March 2020	8 March 2020	27	Malaysia	Related with case number 26. The patient was discharged from Kuala Lumpur Hospital on 8 March.	Discharged
42		4 March 2020	–	38	Malaysia	Friend of 38th case. A second generation patient from 26th case.	In Patient
43		4 March 2020	–	59	Malaysia	A Malaysian female national who is the wife of 33rd case. She is a second generation patient from 26th case.	In Patient
44		4 March 2020	–	62	Malaysia	A Malaysian female national who is the wife of 47th case. She is a second generation patient of case 47.	In Patient
45		4 March 2020	–	30	Malaysia	Staff of 26th case.	In Patient
46		4 March 2020	–	41	Malaysia	Related with case number 26.	In Patient
47		4 March 2020	–	62	Malaysia	Related with case number 26.	In Patient
48		4 March 2020	–	55	Malaysia	Related with case number 26.	In Patient
49		4 March 2020	–	51	Malaysia	Related with case number 26.	In Patient
50		4 March 2020	–	56	Malaysia	Related with case number 26.	In Patient
51		5 March 2020	–	9	Malaysia	Child of 32nd case. A second generation patient from 26th case.	In Patient
52		5 March 2020	–	42	Malaysia	Driver of 33rd case. A second generation patient from 26th case.	In Patient
53		5 March 2020	12 March 2020	50	Malaysia	Staff of 33rd case. A second generation patient from 26th case.	Discharged
54		5 March 2020	–	40	Malaysia	Related to 26th case.	In Patient
55		5 March 2020	–	36	Malaysia	Driver of 26th case.	In Patient
56		6 March 2020	–	50	Malaysia	Related to 32nd case. A second generation patient to 26th case.	In Patient
57		6 March 2020	–	16	Malaysia	Related to 38th case. A second generation patient to 26th case.	In Patient
58		6 March 2020	–	29	Malaysia	Related to 38th case. A second generation patient to 26th case.	In Patient
59		6 March 2020	–	61	Malaysia	Related to 38th case. A second generation patient to 26th case.	In Patient
60		6 March 2020	–	63	Malaysia	Related to 26th case.	In Patient
61		6 March 2020	14 March 2020	58	Malaysia	Related to 33rd case. A second generation patient to 26th case.	Discharged
62		6 March 2020	–	50	Malaysia	Related to 33rd case. A second generation patient to 26th case.	In Patient
63		6 March 2020	–	8	Malaysia	Related to 39th case. A third generation patient after 26th and 39th case.	In Patient
64		6 March 2020	–	28	Malaysia	Related to 33rd case. A second generation patient to 26th case.	In Patient
65		6 March 2020	–	NA	Malaysia	Related to 31st case. A second generation patient to 26th case.	In Patient
66		6 March 2020	–	61	Malaysia	Related to 37th case. A second generation patient to 26th case.	In Patient
67		6 March 2020	–	33	Malaysia	Related to 37th case. A second generation patient to 26th case.	In Patient
68		6 March 2020	–	36	Malaysia		In Patient
69		6 March 2020	–	32	Malaysia		In Patient
70		6 March 2020	–	51	Malaysia		In Patient
71		6 March 2020	–	56	Malaysia		In Patient
72		6 March 2020	–	44	Malaysia		In Patient
73		6 March 2020	–	53	Malaysia		In Patient
74		6 March 2020	–	35	Malaysia		In Patient
75		6 March 2020	–	20	Malaysia		In Patient
76		6 March 2020	–	24	Malaysia		In Patient
77		6 March 2020	–	57	Malaysia		In Patient
78		6 March 2020	11 March 2020	47	Malaysia	Travelled to Indonesia for seven days starting 13 February. Developed symptoms on 19 February.	Discharged
79		6 March 2020	–	32	Malaysia		In Patient
80		6 March 2020	–	36	Malaysia		In Patient
81		6 March 2020	–	51	Malaysia		In Patient
82		6 March 2020	–	53	Malaysia		In Patient
83		6 March 2020	–	53	Malaysia	Part of cluster of cases linked to Case 33 but how she is linked is not disclosed. However, we know this is a second generation case, i.e. had close contact with another person who had contact with Case 33.	In Patient
84		7 March 2020	–	NA	Malaysia	A third generation patient after 26th and 33rd case.	In Patient
85		7 March 2020	–	NA	Malaysia	Related to 33rd case. A second generation patient to 26th case.	In Patient
86		7 March 2020	–	NA	Malaysia	Related to 33rd case. A second generation patient to 26th case.	In Patient
87		7 March 2020	9 March 2020	68	Malaysia	Related to 33rd case. A second generation patient to 26th case.	Discharged
88		7 March 2020	–	NA	Malaysia	A third generation patient after 26th and 33rd case.	In Patient
89		7 March 2020	–	NA	Malaysia	A third generation patient after 26th and 33rd case.	In Patient
90		7 March 2020	–	NA	Malaysia	A third generation patient after 26th and 33rd case.	In Patient
91		7 March 2020	–	NA	Malaysia	A third generation patient after 26th and 33rd case.	In Patient
92		7 March 2020	–	NA	Malaysia	A third generation patient after 26th and 33rd case.	In Patient
93		7 March 2020	–	NA	Malaysia	Related to 33rd case. A second generation patient to 26th case.	In Patient
94		8 March 2020	–	NA	Malaysia	Related to 26th case.	In Patient
95		8 March 2020	–	NA	Malaysia	Related to 26th case.	In Patient
96		8 March 2020	–	NA	Malaysia	Related to 26th case.	In Patient
97		8 March 2020	–	NA	Malaysia	Related to 26th case.	In Patient
98		8 March 2020	–	NA	Malaysia	Related to 26th case.	In Patient
99		8 March 2020	–	NA	Malaysia	Related to 26th case.	In Patient
100		9 March 2020	–	NA	Malaysia		In Patient
101		9 March 2020	–	NA	Malaysia	Travelled to Iran with his business partner from 20–27 February. Tested on 5 March and diagnosed with the virus on 8 March.	In Patient
102		9 March 2020	–	NA	Malaysia		In Patient
103		9 March 2020	–	NA	Malaysia		In Patient
104		9 March 2020	–	NA	Malaysia		In Patient
105		9 March 2020	–	NA	Malaysia		In Patient
106		9 March 2020	–	NA	Malaysia		In Patient
107		9 March 2020	–	NA	Malaysia		In Patient
108		9 March 2020	–	NA	Malaysia		In Patient
109		9 March 2020	–	NA	Malaysia		In Patient
110		9 March 2020	–	NA	Malaysia		In Patient
111		9 March 2020	–	NA	Malaysia		In Patient
112		9 March 2020	–	NA	Malaysia		In Patient
113		9 March 2020	–	NA	Malaysia		In Patient
114		9 March 2020	–	NA	Malaysia		In Patient
115		9 March 2020	–	NA	Malaysia		In Patient
116		9 March 2020	–	NA	Malaysia		In Patient
117		9 March 2020	–	NA	Malaysia		In Patient
118		10 March 2020	–	NA	Malaysia	Part of cluster of cases linked to Case 33 but how they are linked is not disclosed.	In Patient
119		10 March 2020	–	NA	Malaysia	Part of cluster of cases linked to Case 33 but how they are linked is not disclosed.	In Patient
120		10 March 2020	–	NA	Malaysia	Part of cluster of cases linked to Case 33 but how they are linked is not disclosed.	In Patient

Timeline of the virus outbreak

January 2020

Eight Chinese nationals were quarantined at a hotel in Johor Bahru on 24 January after coming into contact with an infected person in neighbouring Singapore. Despite early reports of them testing negative for the virus, three of them were confirmed to be infected on 25 January and subsequently quarantined at the Sungai Buloh Hospital in Selangor. Thermal scanners were introduced at border points, and the Malaysian health authorities placed on high alert. The Malaysian health ministry published guidelines on the virus and establish designated hospitals in each states of the country to manage any positive cases. The Malaysian public were reminded by local authorities to take precautionary measures in the wake of the virus threat with those travelling to China have been advised to stay away from animal farms and markets in the country and to not eat raw or semi-cooked meats. Following several earlier suspected cases in Sabah's capital of Kota Kinabalu, all direct flights between the state with China were stopped indefinitely.

On 24 January, a two-year-old child who was suspected to have been infected was detained along with their parents. The parents refused quarantine and were detained the next day by police at Senai International Airport before returning to China. The patient including others who refused quarantine were subsequently placed under close monitoring by the local Health Ministry. On 26 January, a fourth case of the virus, unconnected to previous cases, was detected. A suspected case was also detected in the state of Kedah's island of Langkawi involving two female Chinese nationals with both victims quarantined at the Sultanah Maliha Hospital; one later confirmed positive on 29 January. With the increasing number of cases reported in neighbouring Thailand, both the state of Kedah and Penang tightened their borders by conducting stringent checks at its international entry points. A Chinese female national in Bintulu of Sarawak also suspected of having contracted the virus led to the state tightening its border and postponing direct flights to Hainan, despite a recently signed memorandum of understanding (MoU) establishing direct flights with Sarawak. Of the total of 25 Chinese nationals in Sabah earlier suspected of having contracted the virus, most of them tested negative as of 28 January although one of them later tested positive for the virus upon reaching China. Another four suspected cases were recorded in Sarawak on 29 January; five in Kuching and one each in Sibu and Miri. Of the total eight suspected cases in the state, six have tested negative. Within the same day, three additional positive cases were confirmed in West Malaysia, involving a four-year-old child quarantined at the Sultanah Maliha Hospital in Kedah, a 52-year-old man at Sultanah Aminah Hospital in Johor and a woman at Sungai Buloh Hospital in Selangor. An eighth case was reported at the Permai Hospital in Johor on the next day.

February 2020

Prohibition dated 7 February 2020 in Sabah.

Prohibition dated 1 February 2020 in Sarawak.

Temporary Prohibition released by the State Secretary of the Government of Sabah and Sarawak Disaster Management Committee of the Government of Sarawak.

The state of Sarawak closed its borders to all Chinese visitors with immediate effect on 1 February, except for people with employment passes, student passes or long-term social visit passes. However, those visitors were required to undergo self-quarantine at home for 14 days. On 4 February, Malaysia announced two new cases, including a 41-year-old local male, which was the first case involving a Malaysian. The case patient had a recent trip to Singapore and is quarantined in Sungai Buloh Hospital. The other case involved a 63-year-old male from China. On the same day, the child quarantined at the Sultanah Maliha Hospital had made a full recovery, was discharged, and allowed to return to China. On 5 February, two of 107 Malaysians and non-Malaysian family relatives brought back from Wuhan by the Malaysian government tested positive and were quarantined at Tuanku Ja'afar Hospital in Seremban of Negeri Sembilan. They were a 45-year-old man and his nine-year-old son, both Malaysians, bringing the total to 12. The younger sister of the 41-year-old Malaysian reported positive of the virus on 4 February, a 40-year-old Malaysian had also been confirmed infected with the virus on 6 February, making her the first patient who acquired the virus through local transmission in Malaysia, and warded at Sultanah Bahiyah Hospital in Alor Setar. A positive case involving a 32-year-old woman from Wuhan was reported on the same day. The woman came to Malaysia on 25 January and referred to Kuala Lumpur Hospital. Another woman from Wuhan was confirmed positive of the virus on the next day, and was quarantined in Hospital Permai with her husband, who was asymptomatic. The 59-year-old woman came from Malaysia from Singapore on 21 January with three of her relatives.

The state of Sabah expanded their travel restriction to all points of entry by air, sea or land starting 8 February, involving everyone except Sabahan citizens with recent travel history to mainland China within 14 days, while Sabahan citizens with such travel history must undergo a 14-day quarantine at home. On 8 February, Malaysia reported an another case involving a Wuhan tourist. The case patient is a 67-year-old woman who had indirect relations with another case patient reported positive on 6 February and quarantined at Kuala Lumpur Hospital. On the same day, Malaysia reported that its fourth case patient, who was warded at Permai Hospital had acquired a full recovery. A total of 11 new patients were also admitted to hospitals within the day for investigation of suspected infection in the state of Sarawak after they were reported to show symptoms; they comprised nine in Sibu Hospital, one in Miri Hospital and one in Sarawak General Hospital of Kuching. A hotline was subsequently set up by the Sarawak state government on the virus outbreak. On 9 February, the mother-in-law of the ninth case, a 65-year-old local became the 17th reported case. Meanwhile, Malaysia reported its third full recovery involving its tenth case patient on the same day. After the ban on travellers from Hubei on 27 January, the Malaysian federal government extended its ban to the Chinese provinces of Jiangsu and Zhejiang on 9 February. On 10 February, Malaysia reported its 18th case, a 31-year-old local who worked in Macau until 1 February. The same day, the Sarawak Disaster Management Committee began to impose a prohibition to neighbouring Singaporeans due to the major increase of positive cases in the neighbouring country.

Temporary travel restrictions into Malaysia on 13 February 2020, particularly to the states of Sabah and Sarawak as released by Malaysia Airlines.

On 13 February, Malaysia reported its 19th case, which is a 39-year-old woman from Wuhan and daughter of the 16th case patient, warded at Kuala Lumpur Hospital. On 15 February, Malaysia reported two more cases, which are a 27-year-old businessman from Guangzhou and a 32-year-old woman who is from China but resides in Malaysia. The man is warded at Sultanah Bahiyah Hospital. A 22nd case subsequently reported within the same day involving an elderly woman from the United States who was among hundreds of passengers who disembarked from the MS Westerdam cruise ship in Cambodia and flew to Kuala Lumpur in Malaysia. The woman is warded at the Sungai Buloh Hospital of Selangor. Meanwhile, the remaining 143 passengers including a further six passengers from the same flight with the woman had been declared free from the virus and allowed to return into their respective countries.

The Holland America Line and Cambodian health ministry requested Malaysia to re-test the US citizen to ensure the accuracy of its findings. This second check-up conducted by the Malaysian health ministry on the woman turned out positive for the virus. Following this second test confirmation, the Malaysian authorities announced the remaining passengers of the cruise ships would not be allowed to enter the country despite several flights being chartered by Holland America Line with Malaysia Airlines. Their departure has not been possible from Cambodia, as this country did not have any direct flights to Europe and the United States. The woman however discharged soon after she was cleared from the virus after another more check-up. This casts doubt from the Cambodian government as well from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) of the United States over the diagnosis conducted by Malaysia despite the Cambodian government still rejected any further speculations that there were already diplomatic tension between Cambodia and Malaysia on the issue. The Health Ministry of Malaysia later released a statement of explanation that the American female patient is only recently recovering after 72 hours of treatment.

On 16 February, the 15th infected patient involving a Chinese female national had fully recovered, becoming the 8th patient cured from the virus in Malaysia. The following day, the first infected Malaysian also reportedly recovered, becoming the 9th cured. Another two recovered on 20 February, with only five remained warded. By 26 February 20 of the total 22 positive coronavirus patients have been discharged from hospital. The same day, a Malaysian female national hospital worker in Sabah's Kudat District suspected of having contracted the virus were quarantined when she developed symptoms after returning from South Korea. Although she was later declared free from the virus, the Malaysian government had begun to restrict travel from South Korea as precaution measures especially with the large positive reported cases within the country. The following day, another two recovered while a new case involving a Malaysian female national who recently returned from Japan were recorded. Further two cases involving foreign nationals living in Malaysia; a Japanese female national who works in the capital city of Kuala Lumpur and an Italian male married to a Malaysian spouse were recorded on 28 February.

March 2020

Map of states with confirmed (red) coronavirus cases (as of 16 March).

Only take-away and delivery is allowed during lock-down

With the increasing cases in South Korea, both Sabah and Sarawak government began to extended its travel restrictions into the country from 1 March. Further four cases; all involving Malaysian nationals were recorded on 1 March. Seven more cases were reported by the Ministry of Health on 3 March.

On 4 March, Sarawak further added Italy and Iran into its travel restrictions list. On 5 March, Malaysia added seven regions towards its travel restriction list, which include Lombardy, Veneto and Emilia-Romagna in Italy; Hokkaido in Japan; and Tehran, Qom and Gilan in Iran. Further 44 new infections were recorded in the early month of March which bringing the total confirmed cases to 99. By 10 March, Sabah also began to added Italy and Iran into its restrictions list.

On 11 March, Malaysia announced a full restriction on foreign nationals directly from Italy, Iran and South Korea starting from 13 March, while Malaysians from those countries will be quarantined for 14 days. Within the same day, the Malaysian authorities began to tracking around 5,000 of its citizens who are believed to have been exposed to the virus in a gathering at a religious event in the capital city of Kuala Lumpur which being initiated following the first positive case in neighbouring Brunei with source of infection from Malaysia. A total of 12 later confirmed to carrying the virus with all of them have returned into their respective states which subsequently triggering a sporadic case of transmission within local community. This raise the total confirmed cases from 158 by 12 March, to 197 by 13 March. The correct figures of the gathering participants were later revised by the country Health Ministry from 5,000 to 14,500 which fuelled further estimation that there could be more positive cases to be discovered. From the total of 14,500, 41 of them have been tested positive which increasing the total positive cases to 238. Following the 13 March Denmark lockdown, Malaysia has added the country into its travel ban list effective from 14 March after recently listing Iran, Italy and South Korea. By 15 March, 190 new cases, the highest daily cases since the outbreak, has been identified, increasing the positive cases to 428. This lead the country Health Ministry stating that Malaysia is currently in late containment stage and special meeting will be held to discuss the next course of action.

On 16 March, the total positive cases had increased to over 553 cases and later that evening, Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin held a live nationwide telecast to inform the decision of the federal government to implement the Movement Control Order.

On 17 March, Malaysia reported its first two deaths from the coronavirus, a 60-year-old priest from Emmanuel Baptist Church in Kuching, Sarawak and a 34-year-old participant of the Muslim religious gathering from Johor Bahru, Johor. A total of 673 positive cases have been recorded within the day with 120 new infections. Additional 117 new cases has been diagnosed on 18 March, while 11 are discharged, bringing the cumulative statistic for positive and recovered cases to 790 and 60 respectively.

Preventive measures

Bans on mass gathering events

Immediately after the spikes of the cases which related to the Sri Petaling Tabligh event, prime minister Muhyiddin Yassin announces that all events that involving mass gathering in any genre including international, religious, sports, meetups and social must be cancelled or postponed until 30 April 2020. However, the end date for the ban on mass gathering events are subject to revision depending on the situation of the outbreak.

In addition, Registrar of Societies (RoS) bans all parties registered with RoS from organising any meeting and activities until 30 June 2020.

Suspension of extracurricular activity in schools

The Ministry of Education of Malaysia announces that all extracurricular activity in schools will be suspended starting from March 2020 until further notice.

18–31 March nationwide Movement Control Order

Main article: 2020 Malaysia movement control order

Beginning from 15 March, Malaysia saw a significant jump in active cases. As such, the Prime Minister of Malaysia held a live nationwide telecast on 16 March 2020 at 10:00PM (UTC+8) to announce the decision of the federal government in implementing the Movement Control Order. The order was to be in place from 18 March until 31 March. Based on the live addressing that evening, six restrictions have been imposed:

1. The general are prohibited to mass gather or attend massive events including religious, sports, social and cultural activities. All worshipping locations and business premises should be closed except for supermarkets, public markets, grocery stores and convenience stores that sells everyday necessities. For Muslims, all religious activities in mosques including Friday prayers are adjourned in line with decision made on 15 March 2020 by the Special Muzakarah Committee Meeting of the National Fatwa Council.
2. Malaysians travelling abroad are required to undergo health check and self-quarantine for 14 days.
3. Tourists and foreign visitors are restricted to enter the country.
4. Closure of all kindergartens, government and private schools, including daily schools, boarding schools, international schools, tahfiz centres and other primary, secondary and pre-university institutions.
5. Closure of all public and private higher education institution (IPTs) and skill training institutes.
6. Closure of all government and private premises except for essential services (water, electricity, energy, telecommunications, postal, transportation, irrigation, oil, gas, fuel, lubricants, broadcasting, finance, banking, health, pharmacy, fire, prison, port, airport, safety, defence, cleaning, retail and food supply).

Implications

Economy, trade and tourism

I think it's very contained right now and there's ... no cause for panic at all, but we cannot be complacent about this and we'll continue to be on serious alert.

—Malaysia Health Minister Dzulkefly Ahmad during conversation with CNBC on the situation of the outbreak in Malaysia, 19 February 2020.

Stocks on Malaysia's stock exchange of Bursa Malaysia tumbled during the outbreak as investors scurried away over fears of the economic impact caused by the virus, which along with other emerging stock markets are predicted to remain until June 2020. With China as Malaysia's largest trading partner, the country's economy was directly impacted and economic experts have warned the prolonged virus outbreak could hit the country gross domestic product (GDP) hard. Malaysia which also largely relied on tourism and being among the top destinations for Chinese tourists, suffered a stark decline of tourist arrival from Mainland China due to the outbreak with the tourism industry hit hardest; costing around RM3.37 billion losses until March. Malaysian states highly dependent on tourism sectors and being the point for Mainland Chinese visitors such as Johor, Malacca, Penang, and Sabah were among the heaviest affected with hotel bookings and food stalls have reported large loss in businesses. These subsequently forced the states to shift their focus to the Southeast Asian market due to the decline of Mainland Chinese tourists. Regardless the large losses incurred by tourism businesses, a number of Malaysians have voiced their concerns over the spread of the virus and urging a ban on travellers from China to the country with some 149,000 in support of the call. Aberdeen Standard Investments of Malaysia also predicted the country currency of Malaysian ringgit (MYR) to weaken further throughout the local and worldwide outbreak which exacerbate further by instable local political scene in the country.

Panic buying and essential items shortages

Face masks out of stock notice in a Watsons outlet within Malaysia's capital of Kuala Lumpur.

The increase in cases and public awareness on the threat posed by the virus has exacerbated panic buying of surgical masks and hand sanitiser which were selling like hotcakes within a short period. Malaysian cities, such as Johor Bahru and Kota Kinabalu, have reported shortages on surgical masks, while a cleaning company in Shah Alam reported a higher demand for hand sanitisers due to the outbreak. There were reports that some pharmacies and traders have been selling masks with higher prices than the controlled price set by the Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Ministry of Malaysia which can lead to fines of up to RM10,000 (US$2,387). This also includes reports of some people being scammed by unscrupulous individuals taking advantage of the pandemic situation. Despite the increasing shortages of masks in the country with both pharmacies and suppliers struggling to meet the increasing demands, the federal government has assured the supply of masks to be replenished with a total of 10 million masks to enter Malaysian markets in the nearest time. With the rapid spread of the virus infections into several more states such as Penang and Sabah in the country, panic buying has seen an increase nationwide with people began to packing excessive essential items. This causing some of the major supermarket operators in the country to continuously assured the public that there is adequate supply of essentials and urging most people to not engage in panic buying despite the recently announced move by the federal government to impose partial lockdown within the country. The federal government also in the consideration to ban face masks exports as a result of the increasing mask shortages with the Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Ministry to raise the increasing shortages issues of surgical masks and hand sanitisers to the Malaysian Cabinet.

Sporting and other events

The pandemic outbreak has forced the cancellations and postponements of many events in the country; including both local and international. All sports and co-curricular activities in schools were postponed with immediate effects as announced by the country Ministry of Education. Major Catholic Masses and gatherings in West Malaysia as well as in Sabah and Sarawak were also postponed, while annual cultural events in Sabah such as the Kaamatan (Kadazan-Dusun festival) and Kalimaran (Murut festival) have been cancelled. Despite Muslim Friday sermon (except for the state of Perlis on 13 March) are still not suspended due to the virus, the Yang-di Pertuan Agong of Malaysia has called for shorter sermon and every mosques in the country must provide forehead thermometer, hand sanitiser and face masks as part of the prevention measures. A guidelines on Friday sermon has been released by the Religious Affairs Minister of Malaysia. With the Malaysia national football team will play the 2022 World Cup qualifiers, the Malaysians planned to play a friendly game against Bahrain before facing the UAE and Vietnam. It was later announced that the friendly would not take part due to severe outbreak in Malaysia and, later, Bahrain. Further sporting events such as golf's Maybank Championship and other local tournament were immediately called off while other sporting events such as badminton's Malaysia Open, football's M-League, hockey's Azlan Shah Cup, squash's Asian Team Championship and Malaysian Schools Sports Council events were either cancelled or postponed.

Exchange of aid between China and Malaysia

January–February aid to China

Malaysian aid organisation #OpsHarapan aiming to collect 10,000 N95 face masks for its relief efforts to Wuhan. A total of 18 million pieces of medical gloves are donated by Malaysia to assist China in their struggle against the virus. The Malaysia's state Government of Sabah has raise some RM2 million for the "Wuhan Fund" which is to be channelled to China as a sign of solidarity with the country throughout the outbreak. The state government fund earlier target RM1 million donation although the amount received exceeding the current total where it is also joined by a local philanthropist who has contributed a total RM40,000 (US$9,548). The fundraising were organised in a jointly event named "We Love, We Care" by the Sabah government and Chinese associations. A group of musician in Malaysia also published a song to support China in their struggle against the virus, the song titled "You Are Not Alone" are featured in a show in Malaysia's capital of Kuala Lumpur.

March aid to Malaysia

Following the Malaysian government move to impose Movement Control Order in late stage containment, the Chinese government through its ambassador in Malaysia has stated that they are committed to aid by supplying face masks and disinfectants to help the latter to contained the further spread of the virus.

Repatriation of Malaysians citizens abroad

The Malaysian government has making the repatriation of its citizens abroad as a priority; beginning with the first repatriation from China. From the first repatriation, two were infected with the virus and subsequently quarantined and treated in the country until they are fully recovered.

Further reading

• Duddu, Praveen (2020). "Coronavirus in Malaysia: Covid-19 outbreak, measures and impact". Pharmaceutical Technology.
• "Can Malaysia handle the corona virus? The five times when we dealt with health emergencies". SoyaCincau. 8 February 2020. Archived from the original on 28 February 2020. Retrieved 28 February 2020 – via The Malay Mail.

External links

• Latest Updates on the Coronavirus cases in Malaysia – Ministry of Health of Malaysia
• COVID-19 Live Updates on Malaysia Outbreak – Statistics on the coronavirus cases in Malaysia
• Covid-19 Cases in Sabah on Sabah Outbreak – Statistics on the coronavirus cases in Sabah
• Coronavirus COVID-19 Global Cases and historical data by Johns Hopkins University