NEWS
Malaysia Detects Second COVID-19 Omicron Variant Case
Malaysia has detected its second Covid-19 Omicron variant case.
According to a report in News Straits Times quoting Health Minister Khairy Jamaluddin, the case involves an eight-year-old Malaysian girl, who has been residing in Lagos, Nigeria with her family.
She reportedly arrived in Malaysia through a transit flight from Doha, Qatar with her mother and sister on Dec 5.
Following that, she tested positive for Covid-19 in a Reverse Transcription-Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR) upon testing at KLIA.
Going through home quarantine
Khairy said the girl has currently been quarantined at her home for 14 days.Kenyataan Media Kementerian Kesihatan MalaysiaPerkembangan Semasa Varian Baharu Omicron (B.1.1.529) dan Langkah-Langkah Kawalan Serta Pencegahan di Malaysia pic.twitter.com/kCEe2t7zDU— KKMalaysia?? (@KKMPutrajaya) December 16, 2021
Meanwhile, he said four close contacts to the girl have been identified including her mother, father, sister and a cab driver who transported the girl and her family from the airport to her house.
"The girl's mother and sister have so far been tested negative for all Covid-19 tests conducted on them. The cab driver will also be undergoing a RT-PCR test.
"All three of them, he said, have been ordered to undergo quarantine for 14 days." he said at a press conference at Parliament, as quoted in the report.
He said that 35 people had come into contact with the girl while in flight and all of them have tested negative for Covid-19 in RT-PCR tests conducted upon arrival and on the fifth day after arrival.
Khairy also said the cause of infection is currently under investigation.
He added that the ministry had also identified 18 probable Omicron variant cases that have been sent for whole-genome sequencing. The results are expected to be known on Dec 17.
You know the drill by now. Take all the necessary precautions if you're going out and stay home as much as possible.:@KKMPutrajaya has confirmed a second case of Omicron in Malaysia while another 18 cases are suspected Omicron cases based on the first line of screening. Currently awaiting the second line of confirmatory testing (whole genome sequencing). The results are expected by tomorrow.— Dimishtra (@dimishtra) December 16, 2021
Must-Watch Video