Editor's note: A correction was issued by Ismail Sabri Yaakob's office at 5pm. Amendments have been made to paragraphs 2 and 3.

COVID-19 | Sabah has closed its borders to non-Sabahans except for those providing essential services, students and civil servants to stop the spread of Covid-19.

In addition, anyone currently in Sabah will not be allowed to leave the state unless for emergencies or official duties and this too only with permission from the police.

The new rules, announced by Senior Minister (Security Cluster) Ismail Sabri Yaakob today, will take effect from Oct 12 and expire on Oct 25.

The only people allowed into Sabah now are Malaysians with the "H" code at the bottom right of their MyKads.

Foreigners with the MyPR cards with the "H" code and those with an entry permit card or an endorsement permit on their passports will also be allowed entry.

Those providing essential services, civil servants and students are also allowed entry with valid documents.

Others wishing to enter Sabah must seek permission from the Sabah's Home Affairs and Research Office.

Those requiring further clarification should contact the Sabah Disaster Management Operations Centre at 088-369434.

As of noon yesterday, Sabah was the state with the most number of active Covid-19 cases at 1,334, or slightly over half of the 2,336 total active cases in the country.

Four districts - Kota Kinabalu, Tawau, Semporna and Lahad Datu - currently have triple-digit active cases.

Residents in these four districts, along with those in Putatan, Penampang and Kunak, are under strict stay-at-home orders with most businesses ordered to close except for those providing essential services.

A ban on inter-district travel has been imposed on the remaining 19 districts in the state.