Dhaka: Malaysian government is going to impose an entry ban on travellers from countries recording over 150,000 cases of the coronavirus including Bangladesh effective September 7.

Ismail Sabri Yaakob, Security Minister of Malaysia made the announcement on September 3, according to reports.

The minister mentioned that the high-risk countries in the list include: the US, Brazil, France, the UK, Spain, Italy, Saudi Arabia, and Russia, as well as previously announced, India, Indonesia and the Philippines.

"We will add more countries deemed high-risk, which have over 150,000 positive cases, into the list. Their citizens will be barred (from entering Malaysia),” he added.

"However, for emergency cases or involving bilateral relations, such as if a person needs to come for a meeting between countries, we will allow entry. But it requires permission from the Immigration Department," he said after chairing the special committee meeting on the Embracing New Norms Campaign.

He further noted that the country's health ministry would be announcing the details on countries which have recorded over 150,000 positive cases of COVID-19 later.

On September 1, Ismail Sabri announced an entry ban on long-term pass holders from India, Indonesia and the Philippines starting September 7 due to a spike in COVID-19 cases in those countries, according to reports.

The ban involves six categories of pass holders, namely those with permanent resident status (PR), Malaysia My Second Home Programme participants, expatriates including professional visit pass (PVP) holders and resident pass holders.

Also barred were spouses of Malaysian citizens and their children as well as students from the three countries who wanted to return to Malaysia.

Meanwhile, Ismail Sabri said the government has no problem to allow Malaysians from high-risk countries to return home but they will be subjected to the 14-day mandatory quarantine as stipulated in the standard operating procedures (SOP).

On the Embracing New Norms Campaign, he said it would be carried out until December 31 to ensure the people continue to adhere to the SOP in order to tackle the COVID-19 pandemic.