Brunei extends another 15 days of border closures with Malaysia
ASTRO AWANI
December 31, 2021
Brunei extends another 15 days of border closures with Malaysia
Brunei reported five new confirmed cases of COVID-19 on Thursday, including three local infections and two imported cases, bringing the total to 15,470. - File photo
BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN: Brunei's prime minister's office on Thursday announced a temporary suspension of cross-border activities between Brunei and Malaysia will be extended for another 15 days, Xinhua reported.
The temporary suspension of entry of foreigners by land and sea ports, including transit through Brunei, was extended for a further 15 days until 15 January 2022, except for government-approved inbound and transit trips.
Located in Southeast Asia, in northwest Kalimantan, Brunei shares land and sea borders with the states of Sabah and Sarawak in Malaysia.
Meanwhile, based on the health ministry's risk assessment of the COVID-19 pandemic regionally and globally, Brunei announced the temporary suspension of travel to and from eight countries namely South Africa, Botswana, Eswatini, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia and Zimbabwe were cancelled.
"Consideration for entry and exit for essential travel from Brunei Darussalam to the aforementioned countries is now allowed, effective Saturday, Jan 1, 2022," the office said in a statement.
According to the office, the terms of consideration of the inbound travel mentioned above are subject to the review of the COVID-19 Steering Committee from time to time.
Brunei reported five new confirmed cases of COVID-19 on Thursday, including three local infections and two imported cases, bringing the total to 15,470.
Realising that eight cases of the Omicron variant had been reported, Health Minister Dr Haji Mohd Isham said there was no need to panic as the case was under control.
As of Dec 29, about 95 percent of Brunei's population received at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine, while 93 percent completed the two-dose vaccination and about 20 percent received a third dose.
To date, the country has recorded 98 active cases still being treated and 100 deaths.
-- BERNAMA
