FOUR more Covid-19 cases of the South African B.1.351 variant have been found in the country, director-general of health Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah said today.

This brings the total number of such cases to 21.

“Three of them were detected in Kuala Langat and the other at Hospital Tuanku Jaafar in Seremban, Negri Sembilan, which is the first case (of the variant) outside Selangor,” he said.

He said the Health Ministry welcomes the government’s decision to impose 14 days quarantine, instead of 10 days, for travellers entering Malaysia from countries where variants of concern (VOC) have been detected.

“This will reduce the risk of VOC strains from entering the country,” he said, adding that updates will be provided on the matter as soon as possible. 

Studies have shown that the B.1.351 variant has a considerable level of resistance towards antibodies.

Prior to this, Noor Hisham has announced that 17 cases of the variant have been found in Malaysia. 

He said the ministry also found 25 cases of the B.1.524 strain and four cases of the B.1.466.2 strain.

The B.1.524 cases were detected in Peninsular Malaysia and the B.1.466.2, in Sarawak.

The two strains, however, are not categorised as VOC. – April 24, 2021.