TRAVELLERS arriving in Malaysia will have to undergo temperature checks for fever, the Health Ministry said, as concerns worldwide grow over a surge in Covid-19 cases in China.

Health Minister Dr Zaliha Mustafa said those found running a fever or declared themselves of having a fever will be immediately referred to a quarantine centre for further checks by health authorities.

She said Malaysians with a history of travelling to China are required to undergo an RTK-Antigen test within 14 days of their arrival.

She said samples will be sent for genome testing if any of them are positive for Covid-19.

Zaliha said those who have had close contact with individuals who have travelled to China within 14 days or exhibit influenza-like illnesses or severe acute respiratory infection will also have to be tested for the virus.

She said the measures are part of Malaysia’s effort to check the spread of the virus in the community and monitor for new variants amid reports of a surge in cases in China.

Starting January 8, 2023, after almost three years of self-isolation, China will reopen borders and abandon quarantine after it downgrades its treatment of Covid-19.

The border with mainland China has been effectively closed since February 2020 as the country has maintained a “zero-Covid” policy.

According to a report, Malaysia is one of the top 10 countries Chinese nationals want to visit.

Industry players are expecting some one million travellers from China next year.

However, with the booming number of Covid-19 cases as well as emergence of a new variant, it has alarmed most nations.

Japan, the United States, Italy, South Korea and India have imposed certain forms of requirements for travellers from China.

On Wednesday, Transport Minister Anthony Loke said Malaysia would see a surge in flight demands following the reopening of China’s borders.

Zaliha said surveillance at international ports of entry will be beefed up by taking samples of sewage from aircraft coming from China.

“The wastewater samples will be sent to the National Public Health Laboratory for PCR testing, and for genome sequencing if Covid-19 positivity is detected,” she added. – December 30, 2022.