PEOPLE should not panic about the Omicron variant hitting Malaysian shores because public health measures in Malaysia are much more stringent than other countries that have detected the variant, Health Minister Khairy Jamaluddin said today.

There is also a lack of data regarding the new variant, which was first detected in South Africa, he added.

“Let’s not panic, we are monitoring the situation. The simple truth is we don’t know much yet.

“Our measures are among the most stringent in the world. We also have a high vaccination rate and enough stock for the booster and we have optimised the public healthcare system in the event the hospitalisation rate goes up,” he said at a press conference.

Khairy said the ministry was monitoring the level of transmission, immunity and the virulence of the new strain.

“We hope to get clearer data in the next two weeks. While waiting for this data from countries with prevalence of Omicron, we will continue with current public health measures, vaccination and the booster dose.”

Malaysia has also been practicing standard operating procedures that are only now being adopted by countries reporting the Omicron variant, he said.

“I have read their experiences, they are still lax compared to the measures implemented by Malaysia.

“Now they are talking about masks indoors, which we have already been practising. In this regard, with the existing SOP, Malaysia is at a very alert level.”

Yesterday, Khairy said the first case of the Omicron Covid-19 variant had been detected in Malaysia.

The Omicron carrier is a 19-year-old South African student studying in Ipoh, entering the country through Singapore.

He said the student entered Malaysia on November 19 before the World Health Organization (WHO) had declared Omicron a variant of concern on November 24.

As a control strategy, he said travellers arriving from high-risk countries at KLIA’s international gate will wear a digital tracker device throughout the quarantine period.

Malaysia has barred entry to people arriving from South Africa, Botswana, Eswatini, Lesotho, Mozambique, Namibia, Zimbabwe, and Malawi. – December 4, 2021.