MALAYSIA has suspended all visa facilities for Chinese tourists from Wuhan and Hubei as part of its measures to combat the 2019-nCoV coronavirus outbreak.
The Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) yesterday said this included electronic travel registration and information facilities, visa-free entry, visa on arrival, e-visa and manual visa applications.
It said the decision was made due to the development of the coronavirus outbreak.
Wuhan, the capital city of Hubei, is the epicentre of the coronavirus outbreak.
“Since cases of the 2019-nCoV were reported in China, the government has been following guidelines set by the World Health Organisation (WHO) and referred to medical experts on ways to prevent the virus from spreading.
“Observation is being done from time to time, while the relevant authorities are doing their best to prevent further spread of the infection.
“The (visa) facilities will be reinstated once conditions return to normal. Wisma Putra will coordinate with the Chinese government on the decision.”
The PMO reminded the public to avoid spreading false information on the virus as it could trigger panic among the people.
The government last month announced that in conjunction with Visit Malaysia Year 2020, it would provide a 15-day visa-free entry for tourists from China and India for one year from Jan 1.
The introduction of the visa-free entry was to encourage more visitors from the two countries to visit Malaysia.
Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad said there had been no visitors from Wuhan to Malaysia since Jan 23, the same day Chinese authorities implemented a lockdown on the city.
The ministry, he said, was working with the Immigration Department to obtain information on tourist arrivals from China to Malaysia before Jan 23.
He said to date, 164,692 visitors entering Malaysia had undergone thermal screening at all entry points. Of those screened, nine were referred to hospitals for further checks.
He said the nine, however, did not fulfil the patient-under-investigation novel coronavirus criteria, such as fever, cough, fatigue and breathing difficulties.
“The travellers were given health alert cards where, if their symptoms worsen, they need to get immediate treatment at nearby health facilities,” he said after inspecting international entry points at Kuala Lumpur International Airport and klia2 yesterday.
The ministry, he said, had requested for 12 additional thermal scanners to strengthen health screening at all entry points.
He said there were four positive 2019-nCoV cases in Malaysia and five pending cases (those awaiting results of laboratory tests), all involving Chinese nationals.
Of the five, two are in Langkawi, two in Kuala Lumpur and the latest in Bintulu.
He said the Health Ministry would ensure that healthcare frontliners were safe from exposure to the coronavirus.
“If any of them show symptoms, they need to seek immediate treatment. Our frontliners are our assets. It is important for us to stress hygiene standards with medical officers and workers, and to not take any chances,” added Dr Dzulkefly.
Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail yesterday held a meeting with Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad at the latter’s residence to update him on the coronavirus outbreak, which has since spread to more than 14 countries.
“This morning, I visited Dr Mahathir at his residence to inform and discuss issues relating to the coronavirus. I am optimistic that the government can overcome this problem with all stringent measures taken,” she tweeted.
On Sunday, she chaired a 2019-nCoV coordination cluster meeting, which was attended by ministers and heads of the National Disaster Management Agency, police and army.
The 2019-nCoV outbreak was first detected in Wuhan, China, late last month, when several individuals were found to have displayed pneumonia symptoms. The WHO later confirmed that it was a new type of coronavirus.
