THE Sarawak Disaster Management Committee last night clarified that the state’s entry ban on students from China returning to continue their studies after the Lunar New Year break only applies to those from Hubei province.

The committee, in its latest public update, said the ban, introduced over fears of the Wuhan coronavirus spreading, was in line with the decision taken by Putrajaya.

The federal government on Tuesday temporarily suspended visas for residents from the Hubei province and its capital city of Wuhan.

Wuhan is the epicentre of the 2019 novel coronavirus outbreak.

The committee said students from other parts of China will be allowed into the state but they will have to undergo the mandatory 14-day home quarantine.

It said the state also had to the power to enforce the health declaration form which all visitors and passengers travelling into Sarawak must fill.

Those who fail to furnish the required information or to submit to a medical examination could be fined up to RM3,000.

The committee said the form will be distributed to all arrivals by plane, ship, ferry and bus.

The form is to be submitted to the immigration officer at the entry point together with the passport.

The immigration officer may refer the passenger to the medical officer if he suspects him of showing symptoms of the viral infection.

The coronavirus is a new, SARS-like infection that has killed at least 259 people in China and sickened more than 11,000 people in 27 countries. – February 1, 2020.