Covid-19: We’re monitoring new UK strain, says Health DG

PUTRAJAYA: Malaysia will be watching closely the newfound Covid-19 strain in the United Kingdom, which is said to have a higher than usual infection rate, says the Health director-general.

Tan Sri Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah said currently, travellers arriving into Malaysia from the United Kingdom will continue to be subject to the country’s mandatory Covid-19 test and quarantine ruling.

“We are still closely watching the developments on the new strain in the United Kingdom. It is said that the strain is 70% more infectious.

“Those arriving from the United Kingdom will still be tested and those who are found to be Covid-19 negative must undergo the 10-day quarantine order.

“We hope it is sufficient, but we will step up our surveillance for those coming from the United Kingdom.

“It is most important that they are contained, ” Dr Noor Hisham told a press conference here Monday (Dec 21).

He added that Malaysia had a similar experience with the D614G mutation of Covid-19, which hit the state of Kedah around August.

“The D614G strain is noted to have high infectivity and started from an individual arriving from Sivagangga in India. Within a short period of time, we saw almost the whole of Kedah infected, with multiple clusters.

“The virus continues to mutate and the ministry continues to monitor this, ” said Dr Noor Hisham.

After news of the newly discovered strain of the Covid-19 emerged from the United Kingdom, several countries in Europe, including the Netherlands and Italy, have proceeded to ban passenger flights from the country, as has India.

Not much is known about the strain, but experts said current vaccines should still be effective against it.