UPDATED: February 28, 2020

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 can refer to the press statement of the chief director of health Malaysia

Seven Prevention Tips
Dr Noor Hisham also shared seven preventive measures, especially for those travelling abroad and after their return to Malaysia.

The seven tips including the practice of a high standard of personal hygiene such as frequent washing of hands with soap and water or with hand sanitiser; as well as practising good cough etiquette by using a tissue to cover the nose and mouth when coughing or sneezing and washing hands immediately.

While travelling, travellers should also bring along face masks and hand sanitiser to be used when necessary, besides avoiding visits to crowded places and to avoid close contact with infected individuals, he said.

Those travelling should also avoid visiting farms, markets selling live animals, places where animals are slaughtered or touching any animals, with travellers also advised against consuming any animal products that are raw or have not been well-cooked.

He also advised travellers to immediately seek medical treatment if they fall ill with symptoms of COVID-19 infection (such as fever, cough or difficulty in breathing) within 14 days of their return from their travel abroad, and to also inform doctors of their travel history.

Souces: MalayMail and Ministry of Health Malaysia

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