KUCHING: Sarawak has added Malawi to the list of countries with temporary travel restrictions due to the new Omicron variant of Covid-19.

       The state disaster management committee said the decision was made in line with Health Minister Khairy Jamaluddin's announcement on Wednesday (Dec 1), that Malawi was now on the list of countries with a high risk of Omicron infections which Malaysians are banned from travelling to.

       The other countries are Botswana, Eswatini, Lesotho, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa and Zimbabwe.

       "Only Malaysians and long-term visit pass holders - such as those with permanent resident status, a spouse visa and Sarawak Malaysia My Second Home visa - who are returning to Malaysia from these countries or have a travel history to these countries in the last 14 days can enter Sarawak," said the committee.

       "They must apply for entry through EnterSarawak, undergo a mandatory 14-day quarantine at a designated quarantine centre at the first point of entry and submit negative PCR Covid-19 test results within three days of departure," it added in a statement on Wednesday.

       It also said temporary travel restrictions remained in place for non-Malaysians travellers from countries which have reported Omicron transmissions and countries with a high risk of Omicron transmissions such as those listed, as well as travellers with a travel history to these countries 14 days before arrival.

       In addition, the committee said the entry of international students and foreign workers from the affected countries would be temporarily suspended.