Leaders of Southeast Asia take sweeping measures to slow the spread

Temperature check at a popular nightlife complex in Bangkok, on Monday.Credit...Adam Dean for The New York Times

As Southeast Asia wrestles with the rapid spread of the corona virus, leaders of three countries — Malaysia, the Philippines and Thailand — announced sweeping measures Monday evening to try to slow its progress.

In Malaysia, the newly installed prime minister, Muhyiddin Yassin, banned mass gatherings until the end of March and ordered the closure of schools and universities, houses of worship, most government offices, and businesses except for grocery stores and shops selling necessities.

Meanwhile, the president of the Philippines, Rodrigo Duterte, expanded an existing  corona virus lock-down  of Manila, the capital, to the entire island of Luzon, covering 60 million people.

“You have to stay home,” said  Mr. Duterte, 74. “You have to contribute to the fight.”

Residents will only be permitted to leave home to buy food, medicine and other basic necessities.  He denied that his goal was to enact martial law and said the lock down was essential to prevent the virus from gaining more ground.

And in Thailand, the prime minister, Prayuth Chan-ocha, called for closing facilities where large numbers of people gather, including entertainment venues, sport stadiums and schools. Closures could begin as early as Wednesday.

In Indonesia, which has been among the slowest to address the virus, the president, Joko Widodo called for Indonesians to isolate themselves.

“Under the circumstances, it’s time for us to work from home, study from home, pray from home,” he said Sunday.


After one of his cabinet ministers tested positive, Mr. Joko declined Monday to disclose his own test results.

Reference: The New York Times