STARTING tomorrow, Malaysia will temporarily bar the entry of all foreign nationals with a travel history to seven African countries in the last 14 days, said Health Minister Khairy Jamaluddin.
 
Khairy said the Ministry is taking the step as part of precautionary measures due to the emergence of a new B.1.1.529 Covid-19 deadly variant. 
 
The seven countries are South Africa, Botswana, Eswatini, Lesotho, Mozambique, Namibia and Zimbabwe.
 
He said Malaysian citizens, permanent residents and long-term pass holders will be allowed to return and enter the country.

However, they will need to undergo a mandatory 14-day quarantine at  designated quarantine centres regardless of their vaccination status. 
 
“Returning Malaysian citizens, permanent residents and long-term pass holders are required to undergo mandatory quarantine for 14 days at the quarantine centres regardless of vaccination status and are strictly not allowed to undergo quarantine at home.

“In addition, samples will be taken from individuals arriving from these countries for genomic surveillance,” Khairy said at a press conference in Putrajaya today.
 
According to the minister, this new variant has 32 protein spike mutations, which is two times more than the Delta variant.

“Based on genomic surveillance conducted up to November 26, 2021, no new B.1.1.529 Covid-19 variant has been reported in Malaysia,” the Health Minister said. 

Khairy added that so far, three countries have reported cases related to the new variant.

They are South Africa with 77 cases, Botswana (four cases) and Hong Kong (two cases).

“The first case reported in Botswana was on November 11, while South Africa detected it on November 14 and Hong Kong on November 25. The case reported in Hong Kong had a travel history to South Africa,” Khairy said. 

The minister said the World Health Organisation has categorised the new B.1.1.529. variant as Variant Under Monitoring. – November 26, 2021.