ALOR STAR – Parents travelling with unvaccinated children below 17 years old to Langkawi must ensure their kids and even toddlers are wearing face masks in public areas, said Kedah’s health authority.
State Health Director Dr Othman Warijo told The Vibes these kids are prohibited from roaming public areas freely, and that they must be accompanied by their parents.
He pointed out that the standard operating procedures (SOPs) governing parents with unvaccinated children are listed on the National Security Council (NSC) portal.
“We hope parents comply fully with SOPs to help us check the emergence of clusters when the tourism bubble (reopens). When travelling, each family must create their own small bubbles so they can monitor the level of exposure their families have to third parties,” said Dr Othman.
The island is the forefront of Kedah’s tourism bubble project on ways the sector can operate in a pandemic or endemic.
Furthermore, Dr Othman stressed that the children must observe physical distancing at public areas, ranging from swimming pools and beaches to forest walks and mountain climbing, as well as in shopping premises and theme parks.
“They should also record their movements to aid health authorities in the case contact tracing is needed.
“The children must also stick with their immediate families when travelling and consciously refrain from interacting with relatives outside of their main family circle.
“When dining in public, they must eat within their main family circle, while their parents must ensure that high personal hygiene standards,” said Dr Othman, adding that visitors must bring their own hand sanitisers and cover their mouths when coughing. – The Vibes, September 12, 2021
Additional reporting by Rachel Yeoh
