Indonesia, Malaysia and Bangladesh extend restrictions to fight Corona

Soldiers and police hit the streets of Indonesia's capital Jakarta to enforce its toughest social distancing rules yet as coronavirus infections surge and critics warn of a looming public-health disaster. Violators face heavy fines and up to a year in jail for breaking the new rules, which include a ban on gatherings of more than five people, limiting restaurants to online delivery orders and reducing public transport.

Malaysia will extend tough restrictions aimed at fighting the spread of the virus until 28 April, the prime minister said. The lockdown had originally been due to end on 14 April. Under the curbs, schools and all businesses deemed non-essential have closed and people are being told to stay home, while Malaysians are barred from travelling overseas and foreigners are banned from entering.

Bangladesh banned people from leaving their homes after 6:00 pm (1200 GMT) as the country of 168 million people extended a nationwide shutdown until 25 April. The order came after Bangladesh saw a doubling in the number of virus cases over the past two days to 424, with six new fatalities taking the death toll in the South Asian country to 27. (AFP)