Above: Hell has broken loose with a new record high of 871 new cases today.
Like I said, a few weeks ago Malaysia was doing well on the Covid front. In fact, on some days, Malaysia had fewer new cases than Auckland alone. Three weeks ago numbers crept up, largely in Sabah. Due to upcoming elections, a lockdown was not declared. Combined with small flare-ups in prisons at the end of the country, and leakage to the capital, hell has now broken loose.
Today, the number of new cases reached 871. That’s higher than the peak in the First Wave and also the Second. Lockdowns have been declared in the affected areas. Movement is restricted within, into and out of those areas. Flights around the country have largely been cancelled. Add to that, my home-state requires a 2 week hotel quarantine when entering from out-of-state.
So far, I have two trips cancelled already. I’m now meant to be diving in Sipadan at the other end of Borneo, followed by some exploration in the peninsular. The trip after that to Penang has also been cancelled. A third trip, to Langkawi is intact for now.
Fingers crossed for people to recover and for lives in affected areas to return to normal. I’m lucky that in Kuching, live goes on with precautions of masks, sanitiser and tracing.