Hanoi (VNA) – Malaysia on April 5confirmed 179 new patients of the acuterespiratory disease caused by the novel coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19), bringing the total number in the country to 3,662.

According to theMalaysian Ministry of Health, the Southeast Asian country recorded four moredeaths, raising the death toll to 61.

Malaysian people have been asked to cooperateand be honest with authorities if they have contact with infected persons, orattend highly contagious events.

In Indonesia, the death toll from the COVID-19 climbed to 198 on thesame day.

According to spokesman of the Indonesian governmentAchmad Yurianto, the country has so far recorded a total of 2,273 COVID-19 patients, including 164 those have recoveredfrom the disease.

IndonesianPresident Joko Widodo has declared a national public health emergency over the pandemic.Local authorities have been conducting rapid tests in areas where cases weredetected, and urging the public to always wear face masks in a bid to containthe spread of the disease.

On the same day, the Singaporean Ministry of Health confirmed 120new COVID-19 cases – the highest number reported in a day in the country.

So far, Singapore recorded 1,309 casestested positive for SARS-CoV-2, including six deaths.

The Singaporean government has decided to closemost workplaces from April 7 and schools from April 8, to prevent the epidemicfrom spreading in the community.

Accordingly, except for key economic sectors andessential services - such as food establishments, markets and supermarkets,clinics, hospitals, utilities, transport and key banking services - all otherwork premises will close.

Meanwhile, the PhilippineMinistry of Health has reported 152 new COVID-19 cases and eight more deaths,bringing the total number of cases and deaths in the country to 3,246 and 152,respectively./.