Langkawi pre-departure tests bode well for new travel bubble, says DG
The low Covid-19 positivity rate among prospective holidaymakers heading for the newly opened Langkawi travel bubble bodes well for more such initiatives to be set up.
According to the Health Ministry, a total of 2,546 people had undergone pre-departure screening up to noon today, with only five (0.20 percent) testing positive for Covid-19.
All five were classified as asymptomatic cases and have been...
The low Covid-19 positivity rate among prospective holidaymakers heading for the newly opened Langkawi travel bubble bodes well for more such initiatives to be set up.
According to the Health Ministry, a total of 2,546 people had undergone pre-departure screening up to noon today, with only five (0.20 percent) testing positive for Covid-19.
All five were classified as asymptomatic cases and have been issued a 10-day home quarantine order. In addition, five close contacts of these cases did not continue their journey to Langkawi.
Health Ministry director-general Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah described the low-rate of Covid-19 positive cases as "impressive".
“Some 99.81 percent (of travellers) is negative and should be protected from Covid-19. It is an encouraging sign itself for another travel bubble.
“Thank you to those who already completed their vaccination and happy holidays. For those who contracted the virus, (I) hope for a speedy recovery,” he said in a comment to the media.
In a table provided by the Health Ministry, three positive cases were detected at the Sultan Abdul Aziz Shah Airport in Subang, one was detected at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport and another at the Penang International Airport.
This came as the Langkawi travel bubble opened as a pilot programme starting today.
Maintain vigilance
Yesterday, the government ruled that all Langkawi-bound passengers must perform either Covid-19 RT-PCR or RTK-Ag test within 48 hours before arrival.
They must also be fully vaccinated.
For children seven years old and above, they must comply with these testing rules in order to travel to Langkawi.
Those aged six and below do not need to be tested but they will be subjected to pre-departure screening.
Children must travel with parents or guardians who are fully vaccinated, they must not be a close contact nor be Covid-19 positive. The government has only just begun rolling out Covid-19 vaccinations for adolescents aged 12 to 17.
The ministry urged all travellers to adhere to standard operating procedures (SOPs) like wearing a face mask, frequently washing their hands and observing physical distancing.
“If you are symptomatic during your holiday or after returning from Langkawi, immediately seek early treatment or perform a self-test to prevent the spread of Covid-19.
“If we don’t take this rule relaxation seriously, it is not impossible for the situation to get worse,” it cautioned.
The Langkawi travel bubble initiative is aimed at reviving domestic tourism, a sector that has been battered by pandemic movement restrictions.
Back in June, the government launched a mass immunisation exercise on the popular holiday island to prepare it for tourists.
