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MCO Updates

Dear Members,

To help counter the COVID – 19 pandemic, the government of Malaysia initiated the Movement Control Order (MCO), effective on 18 March 2020, in order to increase social distancing and slow down the transmission rate of the virus. The MCO order was extended multiple times and has, at times, switched to either the Conditional Movement Control Order (CMCO), the Recovery Movement Control Order (RMCO), or the Enhanced Movement Control Order (EMCO). 

Following the MCO stages, the National Recovery Plan (NRP) was put in place starting June 1, 2021.  NRP consists of a four – phase recovery plan that is developed to steer Malaysia out of the pandemic. The three key conditions to be met to move to a next phase are related to daily COVID – 19 cases, the rate of bed use in ICUs, and the percentage of the population fully vaccinated.

The latest update is included below.

UPDATE: On 8 March 2022, the government announced that Malaysia is transitioning to the endemic phase on 1 April 2022.

SOP Guidelines for the Transition to the Endemic Phase
Guidelines for you to stay safe #ReOpeningSafely

Latest statistics via COVIDNOW website

Click here to view the latest SOP Guidelines

Please click here for the list of states and current NRP Phase.

MCO Stages
To help counter the COVID – 19 pandemic, the government of Malaysia initiated the Movement Control Order (MCO), effective on 18 March 2020, in order to increase social distancing and slow down the transmission rate of the virus. The MCO order was extended three times, each for another two week period, until 12 May 2020.
 
On 13 May 2020, Malaysia moved into the Conditional Movement Control Order (CMCO).
On 8 June 2020, Malaysia moved into the Recovery Movement Control Order (RMCO).
On 25 March 2020, the Prime Minister announced that the MCO will be extended until 14 April.
On 10 April 2020, the Prime Minister announced that the MCO will be extended until 28 April.
On 23 April 2020, the Prime Minister announced that the MCO will be extended until 12 May.
On 11 May 2020, Malaysia moved into CMCO from 13 May, and ran until 9 June.
On 7 June 2020, Malaysia moved into the RMCO as per 10 June, and ran until 31 August.
On 28 August 2020, the Prime Minister announced that the RMCO was extended until 31 December.
On 1 January 2021, it was announced that the RMCO will be extended until 31 March.
On 11 January 2021, it was announced that six states will be under MCO for 14 days.
On 2 February 2021, it was announced that the MCO will be extended until 18 February.
On 16 February 2021, it was announced that the MCO in Selangor, Kuala Lumpur, Johor, and Penang has been extended until March 4.
On 2 March 2021, it was announced that the MCO in Selangor, Kuala Lumpur, Johor, and Penang will change to a CMCO on 5 March and will run until 18 March.
On 17 March 2021, it was announced that the CMCO in Selangor, KL, Johor, Penang, and Kelantan will be extended until 31 March.
On 30 March 2021, it was announced that the CMCO in Selangor, KL, Johor, Penang, and Kelantan will be extended until 15 April.
On 13 April 2021, it was announced that Selangor, Johor, Kelantan, Kuala Lumpur, and Penang will remain under CMCO until 28 April.
On 27 April 2021, it was announced that Selangor, Kuala Lumpur, Penang, and Johor will remain under CMCO until 17 May.
On 5 May 2021 it was announced that KL, several areas in Terengganu, Johor, and Perak will be under MCO from 7 to 20 May.
On 10 May 2021 it was announced that there will be a nationwide MCO from 12 May to 7 June
On 28 May 2021 it was announced that there will be a nationwide full lockdown from 1 June for 14 days
On 11 June 2021 it was announced that there will be a nationwide full lockdown until 28 June
On 27 June 2021 it was announced that Phase I of the lockdown will be extended
On 1 July 2021 it was announced that most of Selangor and some localities in KL will be placed under EMCO starting 3 July.
On 16 July 2021 it was announced that most of Selangor and KL will return to NRP Phase 1 starting 17 July.
On 8 September 2021 it was announced that KL, Selangor, and Putrajaya will be moving to Phase II of the NRP on 10 September.
On 1 October 2021, it was announced that Kuala Lumpur, Selangor, and Putrajaya will be under Phase 3 of the NRP.
On 18 October 2021, it was announced that Kuala Lumpur, Selangor, and Putrajaya will be under Phase 4 of the NRP.
On 8 March 2022, the government announced that Malaysia is transitioning to the endemic phase on 1 April 2022.

The MDBC office is open with a hybrid set up (team – members WFH and some in the office per a rotating schedule), except on some event / webinar days.  Please contact us for appointments.

We encourage everyone to heed preventive and general hygiene measures; making sure to follow the guidelines set by professional and regulatory agencies.

From all of us at the MDBC team, stay healthy & safe.

MDBC will always make the best effort to ensure that all information posted on this page is up to date.  However, this is a dynamic and continually changing situation so please double check the primary sources (links included per section) for the latest updates.

News items are listed per segment with the latest update at the bottom.  

COVID – 19 isolation period shortened to five days from July 5: Dr Zaliha, 29 June

COVID – 19 isolation period shortened to five days from July 5: Dr Zaliha

The isolation period for confirmed COVID – 19 cases has been shortened from seven days to five effective July 5, Health Minister Dr Zaliha Mustafa said.

In a statement today, she said this was because research showed that COVID – 19 infectivity was at its highest in the first five days.

She also said that while it was compulsory before for COVID – 19 patients to mask up when using public transport and in health facilities, they were now only required (not compulsory) to do so.

Dr Zaliha, however, said that high – risk individuals like senior citizens, those with chronic diseases, individuals with low immunity, or pregnant women are strongly encouraged to wear face masks, especially in crowded places and areas with poor ventilation.

She said individuals with respiratory symptoms are also encouraged to mask up while using public transport such as buses, on flights and taxis, including e – hailing services, worker bus / vans and school buses or vans to prevent infection to others.

Meanwhile, Dr Zaliha said the ministry had decided to extend the status of local infection areas in Malaysia, due to end tomorrow, by another six months until Dec 31, 2023, although the COVID – 19 situation was not at a worrying level and health services were not under pressure,

Click here to read the article.

No change in SOP on foreign tourists arriving in Malaysia

No change in SOP on foreign tourists arriving in Malaysia

The standard operating procedure (SOP) for the entry of foreign tourists at all international entry points remains as of now, said Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail.  He said any decision regarding new SOP would only be made based on the latest COVID – 19 data.

Click here to read the article

Published 8 January 2023

Protocol for entry into Malaysia

Protocol for travelers arriving at Malaysia’s International Borders from 1 April 2022

   

Pre – departure, travelers are reminded to take a COVID – 19 detection test, download the MySejahtera application, and purchase travel insurance.

With Malaysia reopening its borders in its transition to an endemic phase, the protocols for travelers entering the country have also been updated.

Effective 1 April 2022, here are the testing and quarantine procedures for travelers arriving in Malaysia:

Pre-departure measures:
1) Travellers are required to download, register and activate the MySejahtera application.
2) They are required to complete a travel declaration including vaccination information that can be accessed via the Traveller icon in the MySejahtera application.
3) They are required to upload the results of their RT – polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test done two days before departure.
4) For travellers who were infected with COVID – 19 within six to 60 days before departure, they are required to upload the results of their Rapid Test Kit Antigen (RTK – Ag) done two days before departure.
5) Meanwhile, non-citizen travellers are also required to have both COVID – 19 and travel insurance, as well as to state the address where they will be staying in Malaysia.

Upon arrival in Malaysia:
1) Travellers will go through fever screenings via thermal scanners or conduct self-referrals by reporting to health workers if they are symptomatic for further examination at the health counters at the international entry points.
2) Asymptomatic travellers can continue their journey to the immigration counters for further checks.

24 hours after travellers arrive in Malaysia:
1) Travellers are required to undergo the same RTK – Ag test whether at a private health facility at the international entry points or outside within 24 hours.
2) The RTK – Ag test results will be obtained in the MySejahtera app.

Click here to read the article


Fully – vaccinated travelers (and travelers above the age of 18 who have gotten a booster dose):

Pre – departure: Required to take a PCR test two days before travelling.
On – arrival test: RTK – Ag (professional) test at a facility / hotel within 24 hours.
Test and quarantine after arrival: No test / quarantine required.


Fully – vaccinated travelers who were recently infected with COVID – 19 within 60 days before departure:

Pre – departure: RTK – Ag (professional) test two days before travelling.
On – arrival test: RTK – Ag (professional) test at a facility / hotel within 24 hours.
Test and quarantine after arrival: No test / quarantine required.


Non – vaccinated travelers, due to medical reasons (case by case basis):

Pre – departure: Required to take a PCR test two days before travelling.
On – arrival test: RTK – Ag (professional) test at a facility / hotel within 24 hours.
Test and quarantine after arrival: No test / quarantine required, BUT results based on a case by case basis.


Partially – vaccinated / non – vaccinated:

Pre – departure: Required to take a PCR test two days before travelling.
On – arrival test: RTK – Ag (professional) test at a facility / hotel within 24 hours.
Test and quarantine after arrival: PCR test on day four / RTK – Ag test on day five, quarantine for five days.


Children and adolescents aged 17 and below:

Pre – departure: Required to take a PCR test two days before travelling.
On – arrival test: RTK – Ag (professional) test at a facility / hotel within 24 hours.
Test and quarantine after arrival: No test / quarantine required.


Pre – departure, all travelers are also reminded to download and activate the MySejahtera application. Through the app, they are then required to complete the pre – departure form through the Traveller icon.

It is also important to note that travelers are also required to purchase COVID – 19 & travel insurance.

On – arrival, they will take a temperature check before undergoing any required tests.

Click here to read the article

COVID – 19 test no longer required for travelers from three categories

COVID – 19 test no longer required for travelers from three categories

Effective May 1, travelers under three categories are no longer required to undergo COVID – 19 test before departing to Malaysia and upon arrival, Health Minister Khairy Jamaluddin said.

They include fully vaccinated individuals aged 13 and above; individuals who had contracted COVID – 19 within six to 60 days from the date of recovery before departing for Malaysia; and individuals aged 12 and below, irrespective of their vaccination status.

Khairy said that partially vaccinated or unvaccinated travelers would have to undergo the RT – PCR or RTK – Ag professional test two days before departure to Malaysia, and also a supervised RTK Antigen test within 24 hours upon arrival.

Click here to read the article

 

Published 28 April 2022

Requirements for travel to the Netherlands

Requirements for entry into the Netherlands:

Self – quarantine requirement lifted as of 25 February 2022
From 00.01 on 25 February 2022 people travelling to the Netherlands no longer have to self – quarantine on arrival. There are still other rules for travelers.  See the checklist to find out what rules apply to you.

Click here to see the announcement

There are no coronavirus entry rules for people travelling from:

  • Countries within the EU / Schengen area
  • Countries participating in the EU travel rules scheme
    If you are travelling by air, complete a health declaration form.

You are advised to do a self – test immediately after arrival in the Netherlands and again on day 5.

EU entry ban for travelers from non – EU countries

An EU entry ban is in effect for people from countries outside the European Union / Schengen area. There are exemptions to the entry ban, for example for people travelling from a safe country or people with proof of vaccination or proof of recovery. This proof of vaccination or recovery must meet certain requirements. From 23 March 2022 people travelling to the Netherlands no longer need to show a negative test result.

Click here to see the announcement