Covid-19 Watch: 62 Omicron variant cases detected in Malaysia so far

PETALING JAYA: A total of 62 Covid-19 Omicron variant cases have been detected in Malaysia so far, says Health Minister Khairy Jamaluddin.

Out of these, 61 cases were imported infections from abroad while one case is still under investigation and is suspected to be a local transmission.

Khairy said the suspected local infection was reported in Sarawak on Friday (Dec 24) involving a 38-year-old Chinese national who has been working at an engineering company in the state for three years and has had no history of travelling abroad during these years.

“He underwent the Covid-19 test on 18 December after suffering from a fever and cough since December 13. The sample tested positive for Covid-19 and he was admitted to the Sarawak General Hospital on Monday (Dec 20)," said Khairy.

“Case samples were sent to IHCM (Institute of Health and Community Medicine) at Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (UNIMAS) for genomic sequencing test and were confirmed positive for the Omicron variant on Thursday (Dec 23),” he added at a press conference on Saturday (Dec 25).

Khairy said that the cause of infection has yet to be identified and investigations are still ongoing by the Kuching Divisional Health Office.

He added that the patient is fully vaccinated and said that his condition is stable and that two of his close contacts have been identified.

Khairy added that the Health Ministry and the Institute for Medical Research (IMR) had conducted PCR Genotyping Assay test on 145 Covid-19 positive case samples among travelers from Dec 15 to Dec 21 December 2021.

Out of the 145 samples, 60 indicated probabilities of being the Omicron variant and on Dec 24, 45 out of these 60 presumptive samples were confirmed to be Omicron.

Separately, the Institute of Health and Community Medicine at UNIMAS also detected another four cases of the Omicron variant.

“Out of the total 49 new cases, 30 were imported infections from Saudi Arabia, which occurred among travellers who returned to Malaysia after performing the Umrah. A large number of them did not adhere to the home quarantine regulations," said Khairy.

“They did not isolate themselves from the other family members living in the same house and also accepted guests during the quarantine period,” he added.

He advised those travelling overseas especially to Saudi Arabia to get their booster shot, adding that the Ministry will be announcing a shorter interval period between the second and third dose next week.