Temperature checks officially scrapped from Friday

Defence Minister Hishammuddin Hussein today said that the requirement for temperature checks as part of Covid-19 preventive measures will be abolished from Friday onwards.

In a statement issued after a Covid-19 Quartet Ministers Meeting, he said the same would apply for check-in record books at premises.

“With this, premise owners are no longer required to provide themometers and check-in record books at entrances,” he said, adding however that check-ins using the MySejahtera application would remain compulsory.

He said premise owners who wished to continue with these measures were welcome to do so.

In a separate matter, he said permission for Malaysians to go on the umrah pilgrimage would resume today after being suspended over concerns about the Omicron variant.

However, he said new SOPs would take effect beginning Feb 14, including the requirement for all pilgrims to receive a booster jab.

He said those who had already left for Saudi Arabia or who would be leaving between now and Feb 13 would be bound by the existing SOPs.

“Nevertheless, when they return to the country, they will have to follow the new SOPs,” he said.

On Malaysia’s transition to the endemic phase which was also put on hold due to the Omicron variant, Hishammuddin said there was no avoiding the move.

“After nearly two years of being hit by the pandemic, the country must continue moving ahead,” he said.

At the quartet level, he said, plans for the transition were already complete.

“But the decision on when the phase will begin depends on the Special Committee on Covid-19 Pandemic Management, chaired by the prime minister and including members of the opposition as well as health experts.”

He reiterated the government’s assurance that there would be no return of a widespread movement control order.

“If there is a spike in infections in a particular area, only an enhanced movement control order will be implemented,” he said.

“Returning to the restrictions imposed before this is no longer a good decision.”