As more infectious variants of Covid-19 spread, former prime minister Najib Abdul Razak has urged Putrajaya to impose a 14-day quarantine rule on all international arrivals.
The two-week rule currently only applies to those arriving from 39 countries where Covid-19 variants of concern have been detected.
Indian arrivals are quarantined for 21 days. Travellers from other countries must quarantine for 10 days if they test negative on arrival. If travellers test negative on an RT-PCR test taken within 72 hours before arrival, they must self-isolate for seven days.
“The Covid-19 situation in Malaysia is now critical and we should not raise the risks it poses to the country.
“Therefore I believe that it is more appropriate for Malaysia to do away with the list of 40 countries and replace it with a 14-day quarantine for all countries (except a 21-day quarantine for those from India).
“I am very concerned about the loose seven-day quarantine that the government is still giving to nations that are not on that 40-country list,” he said.
Najib pointed to a May 12 World Health Organisation (WHO) announcement that said the Indian Covid-19 variant (B.1.617) had been detected in 44 countries.
Thus far, Malaysia has detected five cases of the Indian variant.
It has also recorded a total of 66 cases of the South African variant (B.1.351). - Mkini
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