Patients needing critical care can enter

PETALING JAYA: Malaysia will reopen its borders to healthcare travellers in phases starting with those in need of critical medical treatment and attention.

Senior Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob said under phase 1A, only cases of medical evacuations were allowed, which included patients who required treatment at intensive care unit and high dependency unit.

“For phase 1B, permission will be given to patients with serious illnesses such as cancer or heart disease.

“Foreigners must obtain appointment letters from hospitals registered with the Malaysia Healthcare Travel Council (MHTC),” he said.

Ismail Sabri said permission in the first phase was only for those entering the country via air services.

He said they would be required to undergo the Covid-19 tests three days before entering Malaysia and download the MySejahtera application before their arrival.

“Only one caretaker is allowed for each patient but those under 12 years are allowed to bring two.

“The caretaker must be with the patient in the same room throughout the treatment period,” he said yesterday, adding that the transportation to the hospitals must be arranged by the hospital and MHTC.

On another matter, Ismail Sabri said 28 out of 5,451 people screened at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) between June 10 and 24 tested positive for Covid-19 and were sent to hospitals for treatment.

“The 5,423 that tested negative were put under home quarantine.

“Also on June 24, out of 358 Malaysians who arrived at KLIA from Singapore, the United Arab Emirates, Indonesia, Hong Kong, China and Japan, two were brought to hospital while the rest were ordered to undergo home quarantine,” Ismail Sabri said.

He added that 113 construction sites were checked on Wednesday with 11 found not adhering to the standard operating procedure (SOP) while 30 others were non-operational.