MALAYSIANS returning from abroad will have to bear the cost of Covid-19 swab tests and staying at quarantine centres, said Senior Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob.

This comes as the government resumes mandatory quarantine at designated facilities from tomorrow, after initially allowing returning citizens to quarantine at home.

Foreigners entering the country are already required to bear the costs themselves.

Ismail Sabri said a family returning home together will be allowed to stay in the same room at quarantine centres.

“Malaysians who return home are now required to be quarantined for 14 days, and they will have to bear the cost (of staying at designated centres), as well as (the cost of) the swab test,” he told a press conference in the Parliament building today.

“The government is allowing families to stay in one room. For example, a husband and wife, together with their children under the age of 12, can stay in the same room.

“However, they must sign an agreement. In case they are found to be infected, they have agreed to stay in the same room.”

Putrajaya had stopped requiring returning Malaysians to undergo quarantine at chosen facilities on June 7 if they tested negative for the coronavirus in screenings conducted upon their arrival.

They were instead told to quarantine at home for two weeks, given wristbands to wear and monitored via the MySejahtera app.

However, Director-General of Health Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah last week said returnees from high-risk countries may be placed at selected quarantine centres or hotels.

Two days ago, the government announced that all those entering Malaysia will be subjected to mandatory quarantine at designated facilities starting tomorrow, following an increase in Covid-19 infections in recent days.

Ismail Sabri said students under sponsorship and from B40 families, as well as people with disabilities, are exempted from having to pay the quarantine and testing costs.

“Students under sponsorship will have the costs settled by their sponsors.

“The government will pay the costs for disabled people and students from B40 families.” – July 23, 2020.