KUALA LUMPUR – Putrajaya should consider travel requirements for inbound travellers from China to curb any spread of Covid-19 here, Bandar Kuching MP Dr Kelvin Yii said.
The DAP lawmaker and former head of the parliamentary select committee on health said measures were needed to protect Malaysians and other residents here as China reopens its borders and allows its citizens to travel abroad.
“This is important to better protect the people as well as prevent another crisis that may overwhelm our healthcare system.
“We have seen how different countries including Japan, USA, Italy, South Korea, and India have imposed certain forms of requirements for travellers from China especially after the World Health Organisation said it was very concerned about rising reports of severe cases across China after the country largely abandoned its ‘zero-Covid-19’ policy.
“I believe the Malaysian government should also consider some restrictions to prevent a rapid increase of infections in this country, while balancing the economic needs and livelihoods especially for essential travels,” Dr Yii said in a statement today.
He proposed vaccination requirements and a RT-PCR test at least two days before travel to Malaysia from China.
Upon arrival, he proposed RT-Ag testing, with a seven-day quarantine for those who test positive at designated facilities. Their samples should also be used for genome analysis, Dr Yii added.
He also urged Malaysians travelling to China to get the booster shot and to postpone leisure travel.
On Monday, China’s National Health Commission had announced that inbound travellers would no longer need to quarantine upon arrival on the mainland, ending a nearly three-year policy from January 8 onwards.
With borders reopening next month, Chinese nationals have rushed to make overseas travel bookings, various news media have reported.
Chinese communities throughout the world are set to celebrate the Lunar New Year between January 21 to 27.
In response to Beijing’s relaxed rules, certain countries such as Japan immediately imposed restrictions on flights from China – they are to land at selected airports only – while requiring Covid-19 testing upon arrival.
The US and Italy also announced mandatory Covid-19 testing on travellers from China.
It was reported yesterday that almost half of the passengers on two flights to Milan, Italy, were found to have the virus.
Health Director-General Tan Sri Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah, meanwhile, urged Malaysians to get the Covid-19 vaccine booster shot in view of China’s travel policy change for its citizens.
“Get the booster dose, especially frontlines and those in the high-risk category. Even though cases in the country are under control and on a downward trend, we must take precautions,” he tweeted. – The Vibes, December 29, 2022
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