2020

Wednesday, 22 July 2020

WEDNESDAY, 22 JULY 2020

Dear Friends of Malaysia,

We would like to inform you that all returnees from abroad for both citizens and non-citizens are now required to undergo mandatory quarantine at designated quarantine centres only, starting July 24 as there will be no more home quarantine order for Malaysians.

Hence, the entire cost during the mandatory quarantine will be born fully by returnees. Since returnees will now automatically be placed at quarantine centres, Malaysians who return from abroad are no longer need to undergo COVID-19 swab tests.

The tests however need to be performed on foreigners three days or less before entering Malaysia for working or medical purposes. Healthcare travellers from green zones countries which include Brunei, Singapore, South Korea, Japan, Australia and New Zealand will be allowed to enter Malaysia via commercial flights to get medical treatment in the country.

However, the permission to cross border will be based on the Foreign Ministry and the countries involved as healthcare travellers will be immediately brought to the hospital for treatment upon arrival in Malaysia.

We also note that our government will take stern action for those who violate the Recovery Movement Control Order (RMCO). The police will no longer issue warnings or advices because the lackadaisical attitude could increase the risk of COVID-19 transmission.

At the moment, our night clubs as well as entertainment outlets are still barred from operating, thus Malaysians are constantly encouraged to practise social distancing and wear face masks especially in public places and high-risk areas with adherence to the standard operating procedures (SOPs).

In fact, our Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin in his special address on the RMCO recently said the government was considering to make it obligatory to wear face masks in public places following the COVID-19 threat as further details would be announced once the relevant regulations had been finalized.

On the other note, Malaysia and Singapore are also expected to reopen the border to different groups of travellers beginning August 10 since both governments have agreed to implement the Reciprocal Green Lane (RGL) and Periodic Commuting Arrangement (PCA).

The RGL will facilitate travel for essential business and official purposes while the PCA will allow the two countries’ citizens who hold long-term immigration passes (for business and work purpose) to return home for short-term leave.

As of July 22, there is an increase in the number of COVID-19 recoveries in Malaysia, totalling to 8,566 in which it represents 97.00% of the total positive cases. The total number of COVID-19 fatalities however remained at 123 cases or 1.39% of the total confirmed cases.