By Mary Chin
KOTA KINABALU: The Sabah State Government has issued an additional temporary prohibition order on expanding the travel restrictions imposed earlier on China in view of the escalating 2019 Novel Coronavirus (2019-nCoV) outbreak which has affected more than 20 countries around the world.
Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Christina Liew said the move reflects the latest standpoint of the State Government in a serious effort to contain the spread of the viral epidemic.
“Although Sabah is until to date free of any person tested positive for this Novel Coronavirus, the State Government of Sabah has decided to expand the travel restrictions (all points of entry by air, sea or land) to four categories of travellers with immediate effect from February 8 (Saturday) until further notice.
“It is a collective decision of the State Cabinet,” she said in a statement
issued here, Saturday.
Liew, who is also Minister of Tourism, Culture and Environment, stressed that all foreigners with recent travel history to mainland China within the last 14 days will not be allowed to enter Sabah.
“Malaysian citizens (non-residents of Sabah) with recent travel history to mainland China within the last 14 days will not be allowed to enter the state.
“Any Sabahans, permanent residents of Sabah and residents of Sabah under work pass, student pass, long-term social visit pass or any exemption order, returning from mainland China are subject to a compulsory 14 days ‘self-quarantine’ in their homes,” she explained.
All transit passengers originating from or through mainland China will not be allowed entry to Sabah, she said.
On a similar note, Liew said China nationals who are still in Sabah are advised to depart or return home before expiry of their visas.
“Should the tourist visa be expiring, only one visa extension to a maximum of seven days may be granted,” she added. –END–
