Coronavirus: protection measures are increasing in Southeast Asia

Text by: RFI Follow

A new cluster of coronavirus has appeared in Southeast Asia. A religious gathering near Kuala Lumpur contaminated Malaysians, Singaporeans and Bruneians. To counter this spread, the countries in the area have taken different types of measures.

Publicity

with our correspondent in Kuala Lumpur, Gabrielle Maréchaux

This contamination started at the Sri Petaling mosque, on the outskirts of Kuala Lumpur. 16,000 people were present for a mass rally initiated by the proselytizing movement Tabligh from February 27 to March 1.

Two weeks later, two Singaporeans who were present were declared positive for the coronavirus and 11 faithful returning to Brunei became the first cases of their country which now has 25.

The faithful declared positive

In Malaysia , among the 9 cases identified this Thursday, March 12, at least 3 are linked to this cluster, and the authorities are now looking to test all the faithful present at this event.

To prevent the virus from spreading in its Muslim community, Singapore has closed all of its sixty-six mosques.

In Malaysia, where absence from Friday prayers can be the subject of legal proceedings for Muslim men, only one state in the north of the country followed the Singapore measures.

The Minister of Religious Affairs, however, advised the mosques to give shorter sermons and to offer gel and masks. The faithful are invited to do their ablutions at home.

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• Coronavirus
• Health and Medicine
• Malaysia

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