Malaysia to announce stimulus package to counter impacts of the coronavirus outbreak

Malaysia will announce a stimulus package later this month to alleviate the economic repercussions of the coronavirus outbreak, the finance minister said on Friday.

The package will assist Malaysia’s most-affected sectors, Finance Minister Lim Guan Eng said in a statement. The Southeastern Asian nation’s government plans to assist industries such as aviation, retailing and tourism.

Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad will announce the stimulus program on Feb. 27, Lim said.

As of Jan. 25, there have been 18 confirmed cases of coronavirus in Malaysia, according to reports from The Associated Press.

The news comes as the U.S. military is reportedly making plans for a potential pandemic.

China, where the virus originated, has seen more than 45,000 cases and 440 deaths.