11 More Cases Of The Omicron Variant Confirmed In Malaysia
Additionally, the Institute for Medical Research (IMR) has detected another 13 cases suspected to be the Omicron variant on Friday, 17 December.
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Earlier today, 18 December, the Ministry of Health (MOH) confirmed 11 more cases of the Omicron variant.
These are out of the initially 18 suspected cases that were announced by Health Minister Khairy Jamaluddin on 16 December.
All of the 11 confirmed cases are imported cases.
Three are from the UK and the US each, two are from Nigeria and Saudi Arabia each, and one from Australia. Of these, nine are Malaysian citizens while two are Nigerian citizens.
Eight had symptoms, and another three cases are asymptomatic.
Five are undergoing quarantine at home while six cases underwent quarantine at quarantine stations.
MOH said it could not confirm whether the remaining seven cases are infected with the Omicron variant as genome sequencing could not be conducted due to low viral loads from the samples received.
The total number of confirmed Omicron cases detected in Malaysia is now at 13.
Additionally, the Institute for Medical Research (IMR) has detected another 13 cases suspected to be of the same variant on 17 December
"IMR is currently awaiting the confirmation results from the whole genome sequencing. Further information on the matter will be made public from time to time," Health director-general Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah said.
He further shared that the ministry has detected a total of 222 cases involving variants, including 211 Delta and 11 Omicron cases, from 11 December to 17 December.
"MOH encourages each individual to take a booster dose of COVID-19 vaccine so that the optimal level of protection can be achieved to curb the spread of COVID-19 in Malaysia," he added.
Malaysia recorded its first Omicron case on 19 November, and the second case was confirmed almost a month later on 14 December:
Meanwhile, Sinovac vaccine recipients and those above the age of 60 will need to get their COVID-19 booster shots by February 2022:
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