Malaysia extends travel ban to China's Zhejiang and Jiangsu provinces

CORONAVIRUS | The Foreign Affairs Ministry has extended the temporary travel ban to include visitors from China's Zhejiang and Jiangsu provinces, aside from the existing ban on Hubei province, the epicentre of the novel coronavirus which has claimed 805 lives.

Deputy Prime Minister Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail said this was in line with the Jan 27 decision that travel restrictions will be enforced in accordance with the "lockdown" of territories by the Chinese government.

The China government has imposed lockdowns on 16 cities in Hubei province, including the capital city of Wuhan, five cities in Zhejiang province and two cities in Jiangsu province.

A lockdown is a form of house arrest under which only one person from each household is allowed to leave, and only every second day, to buy supplies.

"The Malaysian Immigration Department has been subsequently asked to tighten the existing ban on all tourists, regardless of nationality, who have previously visited or stayed in the three regions over the last 14 days from entering Malaysia.

"In addition, the Health Ministry, Immigration Department and other agencies in charge of the Sultan Iskandar Building (BSI) and the Sultan Abu Bakar Complex (KSAB) in Johor Bahru have also been asked to tighten their control by providing proper advice to the public," she said.

She added that as the situation is still under control, there is no need to restrict travel to and from China except from the three territories (involving 23 cities) that have been subjected to "lockdown".

There have been 16 reported coronavirus cases in Malaysia involving 12 China nationals and four Malaysians. Three China nationals have been discharged following a recovery from the virus.

Wan Azizah was talking to reporters at the Chinese New Year open house at Quill City Mall organised jointly by the Islamic Development Department (Jakim) and Malaysian Muslim Chinese Association (Macma) as part of efforts to promote understanding, unity and racial harmony.

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