No visa extension for China nationals, says Wan Azizah

CORONAVIRUS | The government will not extend the visa of China nationals who are already in the country, said Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail.

The deputy prime minister said this during a press conference today after visiting the Health Ministry's Crisis Preparedness Response Centre in Putrajaya where she was briefed on the new coronavirus (2019-nCov) latest situation.

Wan Azizah said those who have been tested positive with the virus, however, would remain under the care of the Health Ministry where they will be given treatment before being sent home.

"Cannot, cannot," she said when asked if the government would allow visa extension for China visitors who are already here.

Earlier, she announced that the number of confirmed 2019-nCoV cases in the country remained at seven, all of whom are visitors from China including a family of four that originated from Wuhan.

In the case of sick visitors, she added, the country has to provide medical treatment as per requirement set by the World Health Organisation (WHO).

"We also have standard operating procedures from WHO that we must abide by. (This) is not only for the novel coronavirus, but anyone who is sick, we have to treat them before sending them off," Wan Azizah said.

Asked on calls by certain quarters that want the government to widen visa suspension to all visitors from China, she said the move would not make much difference as the number had dwindled.

"At the moment, not many Chinese travellers are coming into the country. The number is small."

On large public gatherings, including international conferences in the country, Wan Azizah said there was no directive from the WHO against the organising of such events.

She said for the Thaipusam celebration next week, the government would monitor the situation and take into consideration advice from the WHO.

"We will see the development (of the situation). If WHO says there should not be large gatherings like that, we will issue a statement and also a directive," she said. - Mkini