Malaysia reports its first Omicron case

Malaysia has detected its first case of the Omicron coronavirus variant but its health minister said the Vaccinated Travel Lane (VTL) scheme between the country and Singapore will continue.

Report informs, citing foreign media, that the variant was identified in a 19-year-old woman who had arrived from South Africa via Singapore on November 19.

She is a student at a private university in Ipoh, Perak, and has completed her Covid-19 vaccination.

The student was quarantined for 10 days before being released on November 29.

Authorities had re-tested earlier positive samples after the World Health Organisation (WHO) announced Omicron as a variant of concern on Nov 24, Mr Khairy said.

Five other people who shared a vehicle with the woman prior to her quarantine all tested negative.