KUALA LUMPUR -- Malaysia is barring foreign visitors from countries hit by the omicron variant of COVID-19, effective Wednesday, the Health Ministry announced.
Health Minister Khairy Jamaluddin said passengers on direct or transit flights from eight countries in Africa -- South Africa, Botswana, Eswatini, Lesotho, Mozambique, Namibia, Zimbabwe and Malawi -- will not be allowed into the country. While the variant has now been detected in more than 20 locations worldwide, the ministry will study whether cases are imported or spreading in the community before deciding on further entry bans.
