Coronavirus infections in Malaysia have surpassed 6,000 for a second straight day, pushing its total tally close to half a million, AP reports.

The government will hold a meeting to decide whether to tighten a lockdown already in place by halting all economic activities.

The health ministry reported a record 6,806 cases, pushing the country’s tally to 492,302. A record 59 deaths were reported, bringing total deaths to 2,099. This marks more than a four-fold jump from January in both total cases and deaths.

A medical worker collects a swab sample from a woman during coronavirus testing at a Covid-19 testing centre in Ulu Klang, on the outskirts of Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, May 18. — AP
A medical worker collects a swab sample from a woman during coronavirus testing at a Covid-19 testing centre in Ulu Klang, on the outskirts of Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, May 18. — AP

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