KUALA LUMPUR: The ringgit opened the week on a weaker note as investors continued to worry over Malaysia’s highest daily COVID-19 cases.

       At 9.02 am, the local note stood lower at 4.2230/2250 versus the greenback compared with 4.2180/2205 at Friday's close.

       On Friday, Malaysia recorded 20,889 new COVID-19 infections, the highest since the pandemic started last year, but the number of new positive cases dropped to 18,688 on Sunday with 360 deaths, the highest ever fatalities in a single day.

       Bank Islam Malaysia Bhd economist Adam Mohamed Rahim said Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin, on Sunday, announced the long-awaited reopening of economic and social sectors.

       "Such news could perhaps provide some good sentiment to the local currency, which has been bearish as of late amid a confluence of factors, mainly due to the surge in COVID-19 cases in the country," he told Bernama.

       Main relaxations include inter-state and inter-district travel for long-distance married couples and parents who need to visit their children below 18 years old in other locations.

       States that have transitioned into Phase 2 onwards under the National Recover Plan are allowed to have dine-in service at restaurants for fully vaccinated people.

       Meanwhile, the local note was traded higher against a basket of major currencies.

       The ringgit rose against the Japanese yen to 3.8300/8322 from 3.8415/8442 at Friday’s close and appreciated vis-a-vis the euro to 4.9633/9656 from 4.9815/9844.

       It strengthened against the Singapore dollar to 3.1152/1169 from 3.1219/1240 and was higher against the British pound to 5.8548/8575 from 5.8685/8720. - Bernama