THE health authorities have not detected the Lambda or Mu Covid-19 variants in Malaysia as of October 6, Health Minister Khairy Jamaluddin said.

These variants were not detected through genomic studies conducted, he added. 

“There have been 2,252 cases categorised as Variant of Concern (VOC) and Variant Under Monitoring (VUM),” Khairy told the Dewan Negara in a written reply to senator Donald Peter Mojuntin yesterday.

He added that of the total cases detected, 2,232 were from VOC while 20 cases were Variant of Interest (VOI), of which 1,996 cases were Delta variants.

Khairy said measures have been taken to combat the emergence of new Covid-19 variants in the country.

“One of the steps we have taken is improving traveller entry control at the country’s international gateways after risk assessment is conducted on high-risk countries.

“We only allow the entry of travellers confirmed negative for Covid-19 with an RT-PCR test report performed three days prior to arrival,” he said.

He added that to increase the genome sequencing capacity, a consortium has been established, comprising seven laboratories under the Ministry of Health, Ministry of Science and Technology as well as institutions of higher learning under the Ministry of Higher Education.

The minister advised people with symptoms to undergo swab tests either on their own or at a health facility for early detection so that control and prevention measures can be taken immediately to prevent outbreaks in the area.

As of yesterday, Malaysia logged 5,516 Covid-19 cases.

The Klang Valley – comprising Selangor, Kuala Lumpur and Putrajaya –  accounted for 1,198 cases.

Kuala Lumpur recorded 189 cases while Putrajaya had five.

Other states and federal territories that reported new cases yesterday were Johor (610), Kedah (312), Kelantan (565), Malacca (112), Negri Sembilan (127), Pahang (232), Perak (393), Perlis (29), Penang (378), Sabah (426), Sarawak (767), Terengganu (355) and Labuan (12). – October 21, 2021.