Omicron: Ministry bans 48 countries, territories from Langkawi tourism bubble

 

The Health Ministry has banned tourists from 48 countries and territories, or those who have been to those localities within 14 days, from participating in the Langkawi tourism bubble.

According to a statement released earlier this evening, the ministry is imposing the ban due to concern over the new Covid-19 variant Omicron.

Of the 48, 26 were on the list because they reported the new variant, while the other 22 have been identified as high risk to have an Omicron outbreak.

The countries and territories that were listed as having reported Omicron cases are:

Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Czech Republic, Denmark, France/Reunion Island, Germany, Ghana, Hong Kong, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Netherlands, Nigeria, Norway, Portugal, Saudi Arabia, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, UAE, United Kingdom, and USA (California).

Those considered as high risk:

Angola, Bangladesh, Croatia, Eswatini, French Guiana, Georgia, Guernsey, Jordan, Lesotho, Libya, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, North Macedonia, Poland, Romania, Russian Federaiton, Slovakia, The Philippines, Ukraine, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.

"Following the discovery of the Omicron variant (B.1.1.529), MOH has started to monitor and conduct risk assessment exercise to identify countries which are at high risk of having outbreak of the new variant of concern.

"On Dec 2, MOH has identified the countries in the attached schedules as those at risk.

"Thus, travellers from these countries, or those who have history of travel to the countries within 14 days, are not allowed to participate in the Langkawi Tourism Bubble," said Health Ministry director-general Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah in the statement.

He added that the ban does not apply to Langkawi residents (Malaysian citizens and holders of Malaysia long-term visit pass) who are returning from the listed countries or have been there within 14 days.

However, they would only be allowed to enter Malaysia through the Kuala Lumpur International Airport and are required to undergo a 14-day mandatory quarantine at a government facility before proceeding to the island. - Mkini