M’sia Confirms First COVID-19 Death; It’s A 60YO Pastor from Sarawak

Update on 17 March 2020, 6:30pm: Malaysia now has reported two deaths: a 60-year-old mentioned in this article and a 34-year-old Malaysian.

After the announcement of the lockdown of the entire country yesterday, Malaysia has another reason to grieve.

For today, the country announced its first death, a 60-year-old pastor.

M’sia Confirms First COVID-19 Death; It’s A 60YO Pastor from Sarawak

This morning at around 11am, COVID-19 claimed its first victim in the worst-hit Southeast Asia country.

The secretariat for Sarawak’s state disaster management committee said that a man, a 60-year-old pastor from Emanuel Baptist Church in Kuching, died at 11am this morning at Sarawak General Hospital.

193 close contacts of the patient have already been traced and are now undergoing home-quarantine.

Over in Sawarak, which is located in East Malaysia (which means it’s not up north and require a flight to get there), it registered 11 new cases today: 6 from Kuching, 3 from Limbang and 1 each from Betong and Lawas.

Kuching is the capital of Sawarak. It’s also announced today that its MP, Kelvin Yii, has been tested positive for COVID-19.

Lest you’re not aware, the Malaysia lockdown, which is technically known as a restricted movement order, covers East Malaysia as well.

This means out of the 553 cases in Malaysia, there is now 1 death.

Sawarak and Sabah, Two States That Took Action Early

The states of Sawarak and Sabah have both taken measures before the country implemented them: both regions in East Malaysia extended their travel restrictions since the beginning of the month when the number of cases throughout Malaysia was at 29.

Lest you’ve forgotten, from tomorrow (18 March) onwards, the restricted movement order will take place and even Malaysians who commute to Singapore to work daily wouldn’t be able to leave the country, though the authorities in Singapore are now finding accommodation for them here.

Almost all places in Malaysia would be closed except for supermarkets, grocery stores and convenience stores selling everyday necessities.

However, food and supplies will still flow between Singapore and Malaysia, so there’s no need to panic-buy.