After three years of strict and suffocating anti-virus controls, China in early December abruptly abandoned its 'zero Covid' policy, letting the virus run freely through its 1.4 billion population.

Covid-19 is spreading unchecked in China after the country lifted its policy in December, but WHO said it still does not have enough information from China to make a full assessment of the dangers of the surge.

Malaysians end two weeks of celebrations with processions, lion dances and orange-throwing on Chap Goh Mei.

For 20 years, Sapiee and his son Firdaus have spent Chinese New Year in the temple kitchen.

Ho Kai Yip and his family struggle to piece their life together again after the massive floods in December put paid to any thought of celebrating Chinese New Year.

The recent floods mean a very different Chinese New Year this year for a small village in Telemong, Karak.

While they are a minority in a Malay-majority area, they still celebrate the New Year in full tradition.

While some have migrated to the city, others continue to celebrate New Year with the traditions they have always observed.

Like the rest of the Chinese community in Malaysia, they celebrate Lunar New Year but with a twist.

However, open house events remain off limits.

With much of the country still subject to restrictions on movements, the traditional lion dance has been far from the spotlight, forcing performers who normally rake in high profits this season to find other means of earning a living.

Choo Kok Yew's lion dance troupe is normally busy during the Chinese New Year season, but not this year.