(July 9): The Covid-19 outbreak in Malaysia hit a key milestone on July 1 when the number of new cases dropped to just one — a Malaysian returning from Turkey. There were zero new cases from local transmission — 3½ months after the implementation of stringent lockdown measures under the country’s Movement Control Order (MCO) on March 18. Indeed, the number of new cases has remained under control even after measures were gradually relaxed, starting May 4.
Malaysia currently ranks sixth out of 184 countries in the Global Covid-19 Index, a comprehensive, holistic and big-data-driven index on each country’s effectiveness in containing and mitigating the pandemic.
These developments, which reflect the successful flattening of the infection curve, are definitely something to cheer about. We attribute it, in no small part, to the early and decisive action of locking down all but essential parts of the economy.