COVID – 19 isolation period shortened to five days from July 5: Dr Zaliha

The isolation period for confirmed COVID – 19 cases has been shortened from seven days to five effective July 5, Health Minister Dr Zaliha Mustafa said.

In a statement today, she said this was because research showed that COVID – 19 infectivity was at its highest in the first five days.

She also said that while it was compulsory before for COVID – 19 patients to mask up when using public transport and in health facilities, they were now only required (not compulsory) to do so.

Dr Zaliha, however, said that high – risk individuals like senior citizens, those with chronic diseases, individuals with low immunity, or pregnant women are strongly encouraged to wear face masks, especially in crowded places and areas with poor ventilation.

She said individuals with respiratory symptoms are also encouraged to mask up while using public transport such as buses, on flights and taxis, including e – hailing services, worker bus / vans and school buses or vans to prevent infection to others.

Meanwhile, Dr Zaliha said the ministry had decided to extend the status of local infection areas in Malaysia, due to end tomorrow, by another six months until Dec 31, 2023, although the COVID – 19 situation was not at a worrying level and health services were not under pressure,

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ProtectHealth encourages booster dose seekers to call and be on waitlist instead of walking in to prevent crowding at PPVs, clinics

Since last week, long queues and crowds have been seen at various vaccination centres in the Klang Valley as people were hoping to get their booster shots even though they did not have appointments.

In response to this surge of walk – ins, ProtectHealth Corporation Sdn Bhd (ProtectHealth) is encouraging people to call and be put on a waitlist instead of physically heading to vaccination centres (PPVs).  Malay Mail was told that with immediate effect, walk – ins will no longer be allowed at off – site PPVs.

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Click here to see the list of off – site PPVs

Published 5 January 2022

Categories 1, 2A COVID – 19 patients don’t need go to CAC

Individuals who tested positive for COVID – 19 and are in categories 1 and 2A but not at high risk do not need to go to the COVID – 19 assessment centre (CAC), said Health Director – General Tan Sri Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah.  Instead, he said the individuals need to do self – monitoring through the Health Assesement Tool (HAT) available on the MySejahtera application.  In a Facebook posting, Dr Noor Hisham said the individuals will receive SMS or calls from the automated voice recording (robocall) service if they have not or do not carry out their daily self – monitoring.

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Click here to read the Press Release from the Ministry of Health in BM
Click here to read the Press Release from the Ministry of Health in EN (Unofficial Translation)

Published 8 February 2022

Industries must keep up COVID – 19 prevention to avoid shutdown, says Azmin

Companies and industries are reminded to continue with COVID – 19 prevention measures in the workplace as recommended by the Ministry of Health to ensure that the sector continues to operate, even as the country grapples with the Omicron wave.  Senior Minister of International Trade and Industry Datuk Seri Mohamed Azmin Ali said the Safe@Work initiative should remain in place to avoid disruption of company operations and reduce the impact on productivity when there are positive COVID – 19 cases.

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Published 8 February 2022

Malaysia – Singapore VTL back to 100% capacity

The sale of bus and airline tickets under the Vaccinated Travel Lane (VTL) between Malaysia and Singapore has resumed to 100% seating capacity for both land and air travel, with immediate effect.  Transport Minister Datuk Seri Ir Dr Wee Ka Siong today said that the sale of air tickets under the VTL would be opened with immediate effect for travel, while the sale of bus tickets started immediately but only for travel from Feb 22 onwards.

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Published 17 February 2022

Singapore in discussion with Malaysia on expanding VTL land to private vehicles

Singapore is currently in discussion with Malaysia on expanding the Vaccinated Travel Lane (VTL) land arrangement for private vehicles, as well as private coaches, said Gan Kim Yong, the co – chair of the republic’s Multi Ministry Taskforce (MTF) on COVID – 19.  At present, no private vehicles are allowed to travel over land between the two countries except for public buses.

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Published 17 February 2022

Updated Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) Reopening of the International Tourism Sector for Langkawi Island Pilot Project

Click here to read the SOP in EN

Published 17 February 2022

PM will announce date for Malaysia’s border reopening soon

The Cabinet has finalized a date for the reopening of the country’s borders, according to Health Minister Khairy Jamaluddin.  Apart from Malaysia, a number of countries in Southeast Asia, including Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam and the Philippines are reopening their borders to vaccinated travelers in an effort to revive their struggling tourism sector.

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Published 25 February 2022

No quarantine for asymptomatic, boosted close contacts aged 18 and above from March 1

Individuals above the age of 18, who have taken their COVID – 19 booster vaccination, will no longer be required to undergo a Home Surveillance Order (HSO) if they don’t show any symptoms of the disease after coming into close contact with a COVID – 19 positive case.  Health Minister Khairy Jamaluddin today announced the new protocol, which comes into effect on March 1, saying that the decision was made after studying data on Omicron.

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Published 25 February 2022

Protocol for travelers arriving at Malaysia’s International Borders from 1 April 2022

Pre – departure, travelers are reminded to take a COVID – 19 detection test, download the MySejahtera application, and purchase travel insurance.

With Malaysia reopening its borders in its transition to an endemic phase, the protocols for travelers entering the country have also been updated.

Effective 1 April 2022, here are the testing and quarantine procedures for travelers arriving in Malaysia:

Fully – vaccinated travelers (and travelers above the age of 18 who have gotten a booster dose):

Pre – departure: Required to take a PCR test two days before travelling.
On – arrival test: RTK – Ag (professional) test at a facility / hotel within 24 hours.
Test and quarantine after arrival: No test / quarantine required.

Fully – vaccinated travelers who were recently infected with COVID – 19 within 60 days before departure:

Pre – departure: RTK – Ag (professional) test two days before travelling.
On – arrival test: RTK – Ag (professional) test at a facility / hotel within 24 hours.
Test and quarantine after arrival: No test / quarantine required.

Non – vaccinated travelers, due to medical reasons (case by case basis):

Pre – departure: Required to take a PCR test two days before travelling.
On – arrival test: RTK – Ag (professional) test at a facility / hotel within 24 hours.
Test and quarantine after arrival: No test / quarantine required, BUT results based on a case by case basis.

Partially – vaccinated / non – vaccinated:

Pre – departure: Required to take a PCR test two days before travelling.
On – arrival test: RTK – Ag (professional) test at a facility / hotel within 24 hours.
Test and quarantine after arrival: PCR test on day four / RTK – Ag test on day five, quarantine for five days.

Children and adolescents aged 17 and below:

Pre – departure: Required to take a PCR test two days before travelling.
On – arrival test: RTK – Ag (professional) test at a facility / hotel within 24 hours.
Test and quarantine after arrival: No test / quarantine required.

Pre – departure, all travelers are also reminded to download and activate the MySejahtera application. Through the app, they are then required to complete the pre – departure form through the Traveller icon.

It is also important to note that travelers are also required to purchase COVID – 19 & travel insurance.

On – arrival, they will take a temperature check before undergoing any required tests.

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Published 21 March 2022

Keep wearing face mask in transition to endemic phase

Health Director – General Tan Sri Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah on Wednesday (April 6) called on the public to remain vigilant against the spread of COVID – 19 in the transition to the endemic phase by continuing to wear a face mask to prevent infection.  He said that wearing a face mask is one of the preventive measures that could reduce the spread of the virus, especially in high-risk areas such as indoor places with poor ventilation, crowded places, and places where individuals have close-range interactions.

Dr Noor Hisham said COVID – 19 still exists and is contagious and causes death, especially among the elderly, children, individuals with low immune systems, and individuals with comorbidities. Hence, he said the best practice would be for the two individuals — the virus carrier and the healthy one — to wear face masks because this will make the risk of transmission of the virus to remain very low.

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Published 7 April 2022

No need to scan MySejahtera to enter premises from May 1

Scanning of the QR code using the MySejahtera application, which is the standard operating procedure (SOP) to check-in at premises, is no longer mandatory with effect from May 1, announced Health Minister Khairy Jamaluddin today.

However, he said the management of the premises concerned should check the risk status of individuals entering the premises through their respective MySejahtera application to ensure those with “High Risk” status, which is a positive case of COVID – 19 and those placed under Home Surveillance Order (HSO) were prevented from entering.

Individuals are allowed to enter any premises regardless of their vaccination status, he told a press conference to announce the relaxation of the COVID – 19 control and prevention measures in line with the country now in the transition to the endemic phase.

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Published 28 April 2022

Face masks no longer mandatory outdoors from May 1

Effective May 1, the wearing of face masks in outdoor settings and open areas will no longer be compulsory, but optional, Minister of Health Khairy Jamaluddin announced today.

However, it will remain compulsory in indoor settings and in public transport, including e – hailing vehicles, he said when announcing the relaxation of the preventive and control measures of COVID – 19 in line with the transition to the endemic phase in Malaysia, here today.

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Published 28 April 2022

COVID – 19 test no longer required for travelers from three categories

Effective May 1, travelers under three categories are no longer required to undergo COVID – 19 test before departing to Malaysia and upon arrival, Health Minister Khairy Jamaluddin said.

They include fully vaccinated individuals aged 13 and above; individuals who had contracted COVID – 19 within six to 60 days from the date of recovery before departing for Malaysia; and individuals aged 12 and below, irrespective of their vaccination status.

Khairy said that partially vaccinated or unvaccinated travelers would have to undergo the RT – PCR or RTK – Ag professional test two days before departure to Malaysia, and also a supervised RTK Antigen test within 24 hours upon arrival.

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Published 28 April 2022

Individuals can be released from isolation on day 4

COVID – 19 positive individuals who are undergoing Home Surveillance and Observation (HSO) order can be released on the fourth day if confirmed negative through COVID – 19 Antigen Rapid Test (RTK – Ag) supervised by a medical practitioner, Health Minister Khairy Jamaluddin said.

He said the test should be done using a self – testing RTK – Ag test under the supervision of a medical practitioner registered with the Malaysian Medical Council (MMC) either physically or virtually.

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Published 28 April 2022

High risk individuals over 12, senior citizens can opt for second booster dose

The Health Ministry has updated its regulations concerning second COVID – 19 vaccine booster shots in a bid to prevent serious infections and death with waning immunity.  Health Minister Khairy Jamaluddin said all seniors aged 60 and above can receive a second COVID – 19 vaccine booster dose voluntarily four to six months after their first booster jab.  The same, he said, applied to those between 18 and 59 with clinical risk of severe disease such as chronic heart, lung, kidney, and liver disease.

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Published 12 May 2022

How to book second booster shot vaccine appointment

Published 19 May 2022

Traveller’s card no longer needed to enter Malaysia

Effective next Monday (Aug 1), all travellers entering Malaysia will no longer need to fill in and complete the traveller’s card feature in the MySejahtera application, said Health Minister Khairy Jamaluddin.

He said the relaxation was decided, after taking into account that the country’s health system is now at a good and controlled level, apart from aiming to facilitate the entry procedures of travellers to this country.

The Ministry of Health will constantly intensify symptom monitoring activities among travellers at all international entry points (PMA) in Malaysia, Khairy said in a statement on Saturday.

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Published 1 August 2022

Masks optional indoors in Malaysia, except on public transport and in medical facilities

Malaysia has dropped its mask mandate for indoor settings, except for people on public transport and in medical facilities, as well as those who have tested positive for COVID – 19.  Health Minister Khairy Jamaluddin said that the government will leave it to the owners of premises to decide whether they will do away with mask wearing.

While the use of mask in many indoor settings is now optional, Mr Khairy still encouraged the public to continue wearing it, given its proven efficacy in breaking transmission.

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Published 7 September 2022

Wearing of face masks no longer mandatory on school premises

The use of face masks on school premises, be it indoors or outdoors, is no longer mandatory, said Senior Education Minister Datuk Dr Radzi Jidin.  Through a video clip on his official Facebook page, he said, however, the use of face masks was still encouraged in schools, especially in crowded places.

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Published 10 September 2022