VISITORS with a Covid-19 booster jab will have their quarantine period shortened to five days upon arrival in Malaysia, Health Minister Khairy Jamaluddin said today.

“They must have a negative RT-PCR test within two days of departure, must complete a RT-PCR test upon arrival, and either another RT-PCR test on the fourth day or a supervised RT-Antigen test on the fifth day,” Khairy said at a press conference today.

He said the seven-day quarantine period remains the same for fully vaccinated visitors without a booster shot, and 10 days for those who have not completed their vaccination or are unvaccinated.

Initially, the quarantine period for those with a booster was seven days. However, Khairy said that the decision to reduce this is based on data, science and the experience of other countries managing the arrival of visitors from abroad.

Khairy said the new regulation will come in force this Monday and it applies for boosted adults, and adolescents aged between 12 and 17 years old.

Meanwhile, Khairy said that visitors taken to quarantine upon arrival will no longer be required to wear the pink wristbands.

He said they would instead be given a digital home surveillance order.

Khairy added that a digital tracking device will be given to those travelling from a high-risk country and in quarantine.

Khairy said starting March 2022, senior citizens who had been triple vaccinated with the Sinovac vaccine as primary series would be considered fully vaccinated.

He said the ministry would extend the same five-day quarantine period to this group. – January 20, 2022.