KUALA LUMPUR (Dec 28): A total of 306 out of 366 travellers who tested positive for Covid-19 last week could be infected with the Omicron variant, said Health Minister Khairy Jamaluddin (pictured).
"The Ministry of Health would like to inform that the Institute of Medical Research conducted PCR genotyping assay on 366 samples of Covid-19 positive cases among travellers between Dec 21 and 25.
"Of these, a total of 306 have indicated probable (suspected) Omicron variant and are currently awaiting the results of the full sequence test (whole genome sequencing)," Khairy said at a media conference on Tuesday (Dec 28).
The minister also announced that the government will lift the temporary travel restrictions imposed on eight countries — South Africa, Botswana, Eswatini, Lesotho, Mozambique, Namibia, Zimbabwe and Malawi, citing the greater spread of the Omicron variant worldwide.
“These eight will be included in the list of high-risk countries, bringing the total number of high-risk countries to 18,” he said. Other nations considered as high-risk are the UK, Saudi Arabia, Norway, the US, Australia, France, Denmark, India, Canada, and Nigeria.
Khairy also added that MySejahtera data showed that 1.4% of the people who tested positive for Covid-19 and were granted a Home Surveillance Order (HSO) had violated the quarantine order.
He said his ministry was considering taking action against these individuals.