KOTA KINABALU: Starting tomorrow, foreigners can enter Sabah for social visits without requiring special entry approval.
However, Sabah Covid-19 spokesman Datuk Seri Masidi Manjun said they must have a valid immigration pass or passport to enter the state.
"Diplomats and expatriates including dependents currently residing in Peninsular Malaysia, Sarawak and Labuan are allowed to enter Sabah for social visits without requiring special entry approval.
"This group, however, must have valid immigration passes to enter Sabah," he said in his daily Covid-19 briefing today.
Masidi said the guidelines also apply to non-Sabah MyPR / Entry Permit Card/ Entry Permit holders endorsed in the passports.
"They are also allowed to enter Sabah for social visits. Upon arrival, this group must present their passport during the immigration check," he said.
Covid-19 positive cases in Sabah jumped to 549 today, an increase of 156 cases compared to yesterday.
Masidi said 16 districts saw a rise in cases while seven districts experienced a decrease. Another four districts maintained their figure from the day before.
To date, 25 districts are in the red zone while Semporna and Kalabakan are classified as orange and yellow zones, respectively.
"Serious infections that require hospitalisation remain low - two patients are in Category 3, five in Category 4, and three in Category 5.
"The majority of cases, 465 patients (84.7 per cent) were in Category 2 and 69 (12.57 per cent) in Category 1. Five other cases are still being investigated by the Sabah Health Department," he said.
Sabah also registered four Covid-19 fatalities – two each in Keningau and Tawau.