Malaysian leader forced to quarantine after close contact with Covid-19 patient
The prime minister of Malaysia is in quarantine after coming into close contact with someone infected with Covid-19. Thai PBS World reports that the office of Ismail Sabri Yaakob has issued a statement to confirm the development, but did not say how long the PM would have to quarantine or if he had been tested for the virus.
The Malaysian PM took officer earlier this month, following the resignation of Muhyiddin Yassin, who failed to hold onto his narrow majority in parliament. Ismail Sabri was sworn in amid growing public anger in Malaysia at the government’s handling of the Covid-19 pandemic. The country has recorded record highs in recent infection rates and has been forced to downgrade economic forecasts as a result of reintroduced and extended lockdowns.
Malaysia has reported 1,725,357 infections and 16,382 Covid-related deaths since the start of the pandemic. The government has recently ramped up vaccination efforts in an attempt to reduce the rate of hospitalisations and deaths and inch Malaysia closer to the illusive goal of herd immunity.
SOURCE: Thai PBS World
