Returning OKU, students, gov’t officers to get free Covid-19 test
CORONAVIRUS | Disabled persons (OKU), students, and government officers returning to Malaysia will be exempted from paying the costs of undergoing Covid-19 testing at the country’s gateways.
Defence Minister Ismail Sabri said that the special ministers’ meeting this morning decided to allow the exemption to these three categories of Malaysians returning from abroad.
In the case of OKU, they must carry cards issued by the Welfare Department. The exemption for students will only apply to those...
CORONAVIRUS | Everyone but disabled persons (OKU), students, and government officers returning to Malaysia will have to bear the costs of undergoing Covid-19 testing at the country’s gateways, beginning today.
Defence Minister Ismail Sabri said that the special ministers’ meeting this morning decided to allow the exemption to those three categories of Malaysians returning from abroad.
In the case of the disabled, they must carry the OKU card issued by the Welfare Department. The exemption for students will only apply to those returning to the country for the first time and they must also furnish proof of their studies.
Meanwhile, only government officers returning from official overseas assignments or duties would be exempt from payment.
“As the decision was made only this morning, there could be those from these three categories who (arrived back into the country and) had to pay the fee. The meeting decided they can claim the charges from the Health Ministry,” Ismail (above) said during his press briefing in Putrajaya.
It was reported earlier this morning that under the new Prevention and Control of Infectious Diseases (Fee for Coronavirus Disease 2019 (Covid-19) Detection Test) Regulations 2020, which came into effect today, returning citizens would have to pay between RM30 to RM150 to be tested for Covid-19.
The fee for Malaysians comprised RM30 for an antibody rapid test kit, RM60 for an antigen rapid test kit, and RM150 for a polymerase chain reaction test kit.
Non-citizens would be charged between RM60 to RM250, of which RM60 is for the antibody rapid test kit, RM120 for the antigen rapid test kit, and RM250 for the polymerase chain reaction test kit.
From June 10 to June 28, Ismail said 6,927 individuals had entered the country through KLIA, of which 6,891 were placed on mandatory home quarantine and 36 others hospitalised.
All 318 individuals who arrived in Kuala Lumpur yesterday from Indonesia, South Africa, Singapore, Hong Kong, UK, China and Qatar were placed on home quarantine.
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