Malaysia went into a two-week partial lock down on Wednesday after coronavirus infection cases in the country spiked to the highest in Southeast Asia, with some buyers rushing to supermarkets to stock up on essentials like instant noodles.

Roads in the Malaysian capital Kuala Lumpur were largely clear on Wednesday morning. Some cafes and restaurants opened, but customers were allowed only takeaway food.

Big supermarket chains such as Mydin put in measures including special shopping slots and cashier lanes for the elderly and disabled and limited the purchases of staples such as rice, flour, cooking oil, hand sanitisers and disinfectants.

Malaysia reported its first two coronavirus deaths on Tuesday (March 17) including a man who attended a mass Muslim gathering linked to nearly two-thirds of the country’s 673 infections.

The government of Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin, who took office only this month, has assured there is enough stock of essentials for the country of 32 million people.