Malaysians are advised against travelling to South Korea, Japan, Italy and Iran that became the latest hotspots for the COVID-19 outbreak, the Health Ministry said.
Health director-general Datuk Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah noted that the global monitoring of COVID-19 cases showed that there was a drastic increase of such cases in the past week in the four countries.
“Therefore, the MOH (Ministry of Health) wishes to recommend to Malaysians to defer trips to territories or cities declared as COVID-19 epidemic areas in the People’s Republic of China (as notified previously) and also in South Korea, Japan, Italy and Iran,” he said in a statement.
COVID-19 Cluster Committee Meeting-19 with various agencies involving KKM (Ministry of Health Malaysia), KLN (Ministry of Foreign Affairs), KDN (Ministry of Home Affairs), JIM (Immigration Department of Malaysia) and other agencies have researched the latest status of COVID-19 around the world and in Malaysia.
Here are the decisions taken;
Temporary sanctions on all visitors from the republic of Korea, including foreign citizens who have been in the city of Daegu and areas district within 14 days before the arrival of Malaysia. This includes visitors that transit through Malaysia;
Malaysian citizens, Permanent residents and Permit holders (long term social and student pass pass) who have been in the city of Daegu and areas district in 14 days before the arrival of Malaysia needs to undergo health screening by the ministry of health of Malaysia;
Preparation of special counter at the international entrance of the country by the JIM (Immigration Department of Malaysia) for visitors from the republic of South Korea, Japan, Italy and Iran.
At the moment Malaysians are advised to suspend the journey to territories or cities declared as the area-19 plague area in the Republic of China (as previously informed) and also in the South Korea, Japan, Italy and Iran.
The steps above are effective immediately. For more information on the latest update, keep checking back with the Ministry of Health.
Source: Ministry of Health