Malaysia's government on Wednesday declared a state of emergency to stop by-elections in two constituencies scheduled for next month, as the country grapples with a spike in coronavirus cases over the past few months.

Malaysia invokes emergency to stop by-elections as COVID-19 cases rise

Recent surge in COVID-19 cases in Malaysia has people worried. The health concerns are now taking a toll on local businesses in the country. Watch the report to know more.

Local businesses in Malaysia take the hit due to COVID-19 pandemic

While doctors and scientists are scrambling to find treatment and drugs that can save lives, Malaysia has identified a new strain of coronavirus. Watch report.

New coronavirus strains found in Malaysia: Mutation spotted in 3 cases from a cluster

A new strain of the novel coronavirus has been found in Malaysia that is said to be 10 times more infectious than COVD-19.&nbsp;

The mutation named D614G was found in as many as three of the 45 cases in a cluster that started after a restaurant owner returned from India and violated his 14-day home quarantine, according to Bloomberg. The man is sent to prison for five months and fined.&nbsp;

The same strain was also detected in another cluster in people coming back from the Philippines.

Also read&nbsp;| <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/malaysia-jails-indian-man-linked-to-fresh-coronavirus-outbreak-320192">Malaysia jails Indian man linked to fresh coronavirus outbreak</a>

Director-General of Health Noor Hisham Abdullah said it could imply that present research on vaccines may be incomplete or ineffective against the strain.&nbsp;

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/exclusive-ex-pm-mahathir-admits-his-comments-on-kashmir-strained-india-malaysia-ties-318923">EXCLUSIVE: Ex-PM Mahathir admits his comments on Kashmir strained India-Malaysia ties</a>

However, the World Health Organization (WHO) has said no evidence suggests that the mutation could cause more severe disease.&nbsp;

A study published in Cell Press said the mutation is unlikely to affect the efficacy of vaccines currently under development.&nbsp;

Meanwhile, Malaysia, which has earlier managed to control the resurgence of COVID-19 cases, is lately seeing a rise in the infections. On Saturday, the country recorded 26 new cases, the highest since July 28.

On Sunday, Malaysia confirmed 25 new infections.&nbsp;

A new strain of the novel coronavirus has been found in Malaysia that is said to be 10 times more infectious than COVD-19. The mutation named D614G was found in as many as three of the 45 cases in a cluster that started after a restaurant owner returned from India and violated his 14-day home quarantine, according to Bloomberg.

A new strain of the novel coronavirus has been found in Malaysia that is said to be 10 times more infectious than COVD-19. The mutation named D614G was found in as many as three of the 45 cases in a cluster that started after a restaurant owner returned from India and violated his 14-day home quarantine, according to Bloomberg. The man is sent to prison for five months and fined. The same strain was also detected in another cluster in people coming back from the Philippines. Also read | Malaysia jails Indian man linked to fresh coronavirus outbreak Director-General of Health Noor Hisham Abdullah said it could imply that present research on vaccines may be incomplete or ineffective against the strain. Also read | EXCLUSIVE: Ex-PM Mahathir admits his comments on Kashmir strained India-Malaysia ties However, the World Health Organization (WHO) has said no evidence suggests that the mutation could cause more severe disease. A study published in Cell Press said the mutation is unlikely to affect the efficacy of vaccines currently under development. Meanwhile, Malaysia, which has earlier managed to control the resurgence of COVID-19 cases, is lately seeing a rise in the infections. On Saturday, the country recorded 26 new cases, the highest since July 28. On Sunday, Malaysia confirmed 25 new infections.

Malaysia: New strain of coronavirus, 10 times more infectious found

Durian, which is banned in many public places in Asia due to its rank smell&nbsp;is a big hit in China.&nbsp;

Durian-flavoured foods include pizza, butter, salad dressing and milk; KFC has even added "durian&nbsp;exploding chicken nuggets" to its menu.

Many compare eating&nbsp;stinky&nbsp;durian for the first time to eating a&nbsp;pudding next to an open sewer because no one can cut open the fruit without nauseating.

According to food writer Richard Sterling it ''smells like onions fried in turpentine, garnished with a gym sock''.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/malaysias-traditional-ramzan-markets-go-digital-amid-pandemic-300158">Malaysia's traditional Ramzan markets go digital amid pandemic</a>

"The&nbsp;durian&nbsp;growers and the industry is gearing up in terms of developing new flavours and marketing strategies," said Dzaeman Dzulkifli, executive director at the Tropical Rainforest Conservation &amp; Research Centre (TRCRC).

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"It becomes a global commodity. With the technology to freeze-dry or package it well, and get it transferred to China immediately with the freshness still there."

Durian is predominantly grown in&nbsp;south-east Asia. It is called the ''king of fruits'' by its&nbsp;die-hard fans.

There were reports that the soaring Chinese demand for the stinky&nbsp;durian&nbsp;fruit before the pandemic was turning into the next big threat to Malaysia's depleted rainforest, as per&nbsp;conservation experts.

The demand of durian in Malaysia fell during the pandemic because of the lockdown due to which&nbsp;traditional roadside durian stalls were&nbsp;forced to close down.

The movement curbs&nbsp;forced thousands of street hawkers and vendors to embrace digital platforms, mirroring a shift in neighbouring Indonesia, where roadside businesses enjoy a sizeable online presence.

However, when vendors tried to embrace this idea of selling the cut-up fruit online, they did not find any transportation because of the fruit's smell.

As a result, they came up with another solution&nbsp;in the form of air-tight packaging.&nbsp;The plan worked and soon&nbsp;online sales led to a big spike in demand

While online sales of the fruit have declined in Malaysia, durian lovers are gradually returning to outdoor stalls since lockdown restrictions were eased at the start of May.

But, consumers have come to see the advantages of having the fruit delivered to their doorstep. It's a luxury some never had before: to flinch at the stench in private, while enjoying the delicacy. 
&nbsp;

Durian, which is banned in many public places in Asia due to its rank smell is a big hit in China. Durian-flavoured foods include pizza, butter, salad dressing and milk; KFC has even added "durian exploding chicken nuggets" to its menu.

Durian, which is banned in many public places in Asia due to its rank smell is a big hit in China. Durian-flavoured foods include pizza, butter, salad dressing and milk; KFC has even added "durian exploding chicken nuggets" to its menu. Many compare eating stinky durian for the first time to eating a pudding next to an open sewer because no one can cut open the fruit without nauseating. According to food writer Richard Sterling it ''smells like onions fried in turpentine, garnished with a gym sock''. Also read: Malaysia's traditional Ramzan markets go digital amid pandemic "The durian growers and the industry is gearing up in terms of developing new flavours and marketing strategies," said Dzaeman Dzulkifli, executive director at the Tropical Rainforest Conservation & Research Centre (TRCRC). × "It becomes a global commodity. With the technology to freeze-dry or package it well, and get it transferred to China immediately with the freshness still there." Durian is predominantly grown in south-east Asia. It is called the ''king of fruits'' by its die-hard fans. There were reports that the soaring Chinese demand for the stinky durian fruit before the pandemic was turning into the next big threat to Malaysia's depleted rainforest, as per conservation experts. The demand of durian in Malaysia fell during the pandemic because of the lockdown due to which traditional roadside durian stalls were forced to close down. The movement curbs forced thousands of street hawkers and vendors to embrace digital platforms, mirroring a shift in neighbouring Indonesia, where roadside businesses enjoy a sizeable online presence. However, when vendors tried to embrace this idea of selling the cut-up fruit online, they did not find any transportation because of the fruit's smell. As a result, they came up with another solution in the form of air-tight packaging. The plan worked and soon online sales led to a big spike in demand While online sales of the fruit have declined in Malaysia, durian lovers are gradually returning to outdoor stalls since lockdown restrictions were eased at the start of May. But, consumers have come to see the advantages of having the fruit delivered to their doorstep. It's a luxury some never had before: to flinch at the stench in private, while enjoying the delicacy.

Why stinky durian fruit is a big hit in China

All tourists who are visiting Malaysia must compulsarily pay&nbsp;for quarantine&nbsp;Senior Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob said.

Travellers entering the country will have to bear the cost of mandatory quarantine and are to sign a letter agreeing to pay before they can make the trip to the country.

''This will take effect from June 1 as Malaysia will continue to impose compulsory quarantine on those who return from abroad to prevent the spread of&nbsp;Covid-19,''&nbsp;he said at his daily media briefing on Wednesday.

Malaysians would pay half the cost of quarantine services while non-citizens, including spouses and family members of Malaysian citizens, had to bear the full cost.

''The signing of the letter can be done at Malaysian embassies and high commissions. After the agreement is signed, the office will also issue a letter permitting them to return to Malaysia,''&nbsp;Sabri&nbsp;said.

He said the Immigration Department would play its part to ensure returnees were aware of the new condition set by the government.

“The immigration will be issuing a directive to all airline companies to make it a condition for passengers disembarking in Malaysia to have this letter of undertaking with them,” he said.

Since April 3, the government had enforced compulsory quarantine for all Malaysians returning from abroad.

All tourists who are visiting Malaysia must compulsarily pay for quarantine Senior Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob said. Travellers entering the country will have to bear the cost of mandatory quarantine and are to sign a letter agreeing to pay before they can make the trip to the country.

All tourists who are visiting Malaysia must compulsarily pay for quarantine Senior Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob said. Travellers entering the country will have to bear the cost of mandatory quarantine and are to sign a letter agreeing to pay before they can make the trip to the country. ''This will take effect from June 1 as Malaysia will continue to impose compulsory quarantine on those who return from abroad to prevent the spread of Covid-19,'' he said at his daily media briefing on Wednesday. Malaysians would pay half the cost of quarantine services while non-citizens, including spouses and family members of Malaysian citizens, had to bear the full cost. ''The signing of the letter can be done at Malaysian embassies and high commissions. After the agreement is signed, the office will also issue a letter permitting them to return to Malaysia,'' Sabri said. He said the Immigration Department would play its part to ensure returnees were aware of the new condition set by the government. “The immigration will be issuing a directive to all airline companies to make it a condition for passengers disembarking in Malaysia to have this letter of undertaking with them,” he said. Since April 3, the government had enforced compulsory quarantine for all Malaysians returning from abroad.

Tourists visiting Malaysia to pay for mandatory quarantine: Minister

Malaysia on Friday said a 58-year-old man had died from COVID-19, bringing its total number of deaths from coronavirus infection to three.

The case is linked to an Islamic gathering near Kuala Lumpur that was attended by 16,000 people, the health ministry said.

The event, which had participants from over 20 countries, has been linked to nearly 750 cases in Southeast Asia.

Malaysia on Friday said a 58-year-old man had died from COVID-19, bringing its total number of deaths from coronavirus infection to three. The case is linked to an Islamic gathering near Kuala Lumpur that was attended by 16,000 people, the health ministry said.

Malaysia on Friday said a 58-year-old man had died from COVID-19, bringing its total number of deaths from coronavirus infection to three. The case is linked to an Islamic gathering near Kuala Lumpur that was attended by 16,000 people, the health ministry said. The event, which had participants from over 20 countries, has been linked to nearly 750 cases in Southeast Asia.

Malaysia reports third coronavirus death