Covid-19: Pilgrims who left before Dec 28 allowed to return to Sabah if they test negative, says Hajiji

KOTA KINABALU: Sabah will allow pilgrims who left before Dec 28 to perform umrah to return to the state and placed under quarantine, says Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor.

He said those allowed to continue their journey from Kuala Lumpur to Sabah must, however, obtain a confirmed negative RT-PCR Covid-19 test before entering the state.

"The state government will provide the services of a registered doctor for Sabahans to undergo Covid-19 test for free at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport," he said in a statement here Thursday (Dec 30).

"For Sabahans who test positive, the state government will also provide accommodation for them to undergo their quarantine in Kuala Lumpur," he said.

Hajiji also said the state will channel assistance for those affected through the Sabah Welfare Foundation and it would be coordinated through the state liaison office in Kuala Lumpur.

Hajiji also said for those Sabahans who left after Dec 28 to perform their umrah, they will have to bear the cost of the seven to 10 days quarantine in Kuala Lumpur.

"The cost of quarantine including accommodation among others will be borne by the pilgrims or their respective umrah travel packages," he said.

He added that the agents should include quarantine costs including accommodation among others in the umrah package provided.

For other Sabahans returning from overseas, Hajiji said that the cost of accommodation for quarantine among others would have to be borne by the individuals.

Quarantine requirements are set by the Health Ministry and the state government from time to time, he said.

However, he said Sabah also sets fresh guidelines of its own from time to time for individuals arriving in the state.