UMRAH returnees claim 157 (64%) of the 245 Omicron cases in Malaysia so far, said Health Minister Khairy Jamaluddin.

He told a press conference today that the total number of the new variant’s cases also includes 123 fresh infections.

Of the 245 cases, 233 are imported and 12 locally transmitted.

Of the 1,800 Covid-19 cases detected at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport in the last week of 2021, 85% are Umrah returnees.

Khairy said: “This group has the most Covid-19 cases and Omicron cases.”

He said the Health Ministry will maintain its decision to ban umrah travel for a month from January 8.

The ministry will conduct risk assessments in Malaysia and Saudi Arabia to ascertain when umrah travel can continue, he added.

Malaysia has recorded 2.77 million Covid-19 cases and 31,609 deaths so far.

Khairy also announced the reopening of four vaccination centres for the booster shot programme on January 15.

The centres are the World Trade Centre Kuala Lumpur, Axiata Arena Bukit Jalil, IDCC Ideal Convention Centre Shah Alam and Soka Gakkai Malaysia (Selangor) Culture Centre. – January 6, 2022.