The Malaysian government has tightened standard operating procedures (SOP) for those travelling into the country in order to reduce the risk of importing COVID-19 variants.
A man wearing a face mask is pictured at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport in Sepang March 18, 2020. (Photo: malaymail.com)
Kuala Lumpur (VNA) - The Malaysian governmenthas tightened standard operating procedures (SOP) for those travelling into thecountry in order to reduce the risk of importing COVID-19 variants.
In a statement, Health Director-General Noor HishamAbdullah said all travellers must undergo PCR COVID-19 testing three daysbefore their departure date and upon arrival into the country.
The mandatory quarantine period for both Malaysiansand non-citizens coming in from India, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Nepal andPakistan are now extended to 21 days.
He added that those entering Malaysia from othercountries are required to undergo 14-day quarantine in government-designatedcentres.
However, the 14-day quarantine period would be extendedfor another seven days, based on the risk assessment.
Noor Hisham said the COVID-19 PCR tests will berepeated on the 10th day of quarantine for those undergoing 14-day quarantine,and if repeat results are found to be negative, they will be released on the14th day.
Meanwhile, for travellers undergoing a quarantineperiod of 21 days, COVID-19 PCR repeat tests should be performed on the 18thday and if found negative, they will be released on the 21st day.
Noor Hisham also shared that six new COVID-19 casesinvolving Variant of Concerns (VOC) were confirmed in the country between June20 and June 22, with five of them involving the Beta variant and one involvingthe Delta variant.
This brings the total number of COVID-19 casesinvolving VOC or Variant of Interest (VOI) to 189.
Of them, 173 are related to VOC, while 16 arerelated to VOI, he said./.
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A man wearing a face mask is pictured at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport in Sepang March 18, 2020. (Photo: malaymail.com) 
