MOH: First Case Of COVID-19 Omicron Variant Detected In Malaysia
However, Health Minister Khairy Jamaluddin has assured that contact tracing has been done and the case is contained.
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The first case of the COVID-19 variant Omicron has been detected in Malaysia, says Health Minister Khairy Jamaluddin
According to a statement by the Ministry of Health (MOH) today, 3 December, Khairy said the case was a 19-year-old South African citizen who entered the country via Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) from Singapore on 19 November.
The individual is a student at a private university in Ipoh, Perak.
The case tested positive at the airport and was immediately placed into self-quarantine at a residence provided by the university
The student, who is fully vaccinated and had no symptoms, was transferred to the quarters by a private bus arranged by the university.
The case was quarantined for 10 days until 29 November.
Khairy said it is important to note that the case was only known to be of the Omicron variant retrospectively
"As people catch up with the Omicron announcement, it's important to note that this case came in to Malaysia on 19 November before South Africa reported the first detected case to the World Health Organization," he tweeted.
He said the ministry found out about the Omicron case by going back to do genomic tests on all previous positive cases from KLIA between 11 and 28 November to see if the variant has entered the country.
"What is important is the individual fully complied with home quarantine, is fully vaccinated and was asymptomatic," he said.
"We have done both automated and manual contact tracing and so far this case is contained."
Malaysia banned the entry of foreign travellers from several southern African countries from 27 November:
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