Malaysia bans mass gatherings, shuts most businesses

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia — Malaysia’s leader announced on Monday a drastic two-week lockdown in the country following a sharp spike in the number of virus cases.

Prime Minister Muhyiddini Yassin said religious institutions, schools, businesses and government offices will be shut until March 31. He said travel in and out of the country will be banned. Only essential services including supermarkets, banks, gas stations and pharmacies will be allowed to stay open.

Malaysia reported 315 new cases in the last two days, raising its total to 553. Many of the new cases were related to a recent mass Islamic religious gathering that also sickened some participants from Brunei and Singapore.

Authorities have said some 16,000 people, of whom 14,500 are Malaysians, attended the four-day event from Feb 27 at a mosque in a Kuala Lumpur suburb. About a third of the Malaysian participants have been tested so far.

The Associated Press