KOTA KINABALU: The state government has decided to restrict the entry of those from Bangladesh, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka into Sabah, effective tomorrow.
Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor, in a statement today, said the decision was made following the spread of Covid-19 variants of concern (VOC) in some countries that had contributed to a surge in new cases.
"Exemption to enter Sabah is given to Sabahans, and spouses (husband / wife) as well as children of Sabah citizens only. However, they have to comply with the mandatory 14-day quarantine procedure at gazetted quarantine centres.
"Ship crew members with a history of travel to Bangladesh, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka over the past 14 days are not allowed to carry out sign-off procedure in Sabah.
"Exception is given to Malaysian crew members and they must also undergo a 14-day mandatory quarantine order," he said.
Today, Sabah recorded 115 new infections, where 49 cases were detected via close contact screening, 13 cases from symptomatic screening, 50 cases from existing clusters, and three cases from other categories.
Kinabatangan has the highest case today at 28 followed by Kota Kinabalu (25) and Tawau (20).
Other districts recording new cases are Tuaran (9), Kunak (6), Lahad Datu (6), Kalabakan (6), Papar (5), Penampang (4), Sandakan (3), Semporna (2), and Putatan (1).
On Covid-19 standard operating procedure (SOP) compliance, authorities issued 20 compounds to SOP violators throughout the state.
Five people were slapped with compounds for not wearing face masks; 14 for failing to provide tools to record customer's detail, and another for violating quarantine order.