South African virus reported in first case outside Selangor

 

The new cases were detected through genomic surveillance conducted by the Institute for Medical Research. (File pic)

PETALING JAYA: The health ministry has recorded another four cases infected with the B.1.351 South African variant.

Health director-general Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah said the cases were detected through Covid-19 genomic surveillance conducted by the Institute for Medical Research from April 15 to April 23.

“Three (cases) were detected in Kuala Langat, while another case, which is the first case to be detected outside of Selangor, was confirmed in Hospital Tuanku Ja’afar Seremban, Negeri Sembilan,” he said.

There are now a total of 21 cases linked to B.1.351 in Malaysia.

Noor Hisham also welcomed the government’s decision to impose tighter restrictions on those coming in from countries that have reported cases linked to SARS-CoV-2 variants classified as “variants of concern”.

He said extending the quarantine period from 10 to 14 days would help reduce the risk of these variants in the country. - FMT