KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia has now recorded 13 cases of the Covid-19 Omicron variant. This is after the Health Ministry (MOH) confirmed the variant in 11 new imported cases with travel history from five countries.

       Eight cases are symptomatic but only at Categories 1 and 2, while the other cases are reported as asymptomatic.

       Of the 11 cases, three are from the United Kingdom, the United States (three), Nigeria (two), Saudi Arabia (two) and Australia (one), said Health director-general Tan Sri Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah.

       Nine are Malaysian citizens and two others are Nigerians.

       Five cases are undergoing quarantine at home, while six others at the designated quarantine stations.

       All of them are under further investigation to ascertain the cause of infection and their close contacts, he added.

       The 11 cases were part of the 18 samples showing the suspected presence of the Omicron variant announced by Health Minister Khairy Jamaluddin last Thursday.

       “The other seven samples, however, could not confirm the presence of the Omicron variant because the whole genome sequencing could not be done due to the low level of viral load in the samples,” Khairy said.

       Meanwhile, Dr Noor Hisham said the Institute of Medical Research had detected 13 other imported cases showing the presence of the Omicron variant on Friday.

       With the increase of imported cases of the Omicron variant in Malaysia, the MOH has taken the initiative to enhance the prevention and control of Covid-19 measures at all international entry points and also in the community.

       The ministry also encourages everyone to get their Covid-19 vaccine booster shot to achieve optimal protection against the coronavirus, he added. — Bernama