Previous COVID-19 test carried out in S'pore on M'sian returnees to be considered as void: Johor state representative

The previous COVID-19 test carried out on returning Malaysians — as well as Malaysia’s permanent residents and long-term pass holders — in Singapore will be considered void, based on a new standard operating procedure (SOP) introduced by the Johor Health Department.
Local media reported Johor Health and Environment Committee chairman R. Vidyananthan as saying on Friday (24 April) that the home quarantine option will not be made available even to those who have tested negative.
“Depending on their health status, they will either be referred to a hospital or sent to a quarantine centre.
“In the event of the returnee having a fever, the individual entering the country will immediately be referred to a hospital,” said Vidyananthan.
The new SOP will apply to Johor’s entry point management at the two land crossings with Singapore — namely the Sultan Iskandar Building (BSI) in Johor Bahru and the Sultan Abu Bakar Complex (KSAB) in Gelang Patah.
Vidyananthan said that the state government will continue to conduct rigorous screenings at points of entry alongside Malaysia’s Health Ministry officials and the Johor Immigration Department personnel.
The measure was reportedly announced after Singapore recorded a sharp spike in confirmed COVID-19 cases on Thursday with 1,037 new cases, bringing the total number of positive cumulative cases to 11,187.
Singapore’s Health Ministry today preliminarily confirmed 897 new COVID-19 cases, bringing the total number of confirmed cases to 12,075.