The decision by the Cabinet was announced by health minister Khairy Jamaluddin in a press conference today.

“However, a risk evaluation within and outside the country, especially Saudi Arabia, will be carried out from time to time before umrah trips are allowed to resume,” he said.

Fears over the high number of Covid-19 Omicron variant cases discovered among those returning from Mecca led to last week’s announcement by Khairy on the temporary suspension of all umrah trips from Jan 8.

Meanwhile, pilgrims who have just returned from umrah must undergo quarantine at designated hotels or government-run quarantine centres.

Khairy said the health ministry and other relevant agencies would update the SOPs for umrah travellers, noting that it would be mandatory for pilgrims to have a booster dose.

He said the authorities would also conduct case management and contact tracing in Saudi Arabia as well as monitor the health condition of Malaysian pilgrims.

Khairy added that travel agencies would be given more responsibility to ensure adherence to umrah SOPs by pilgrims.

“They (travel agencies) will also have to report positive cases and close contacts to the health ministry.”

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