KUALA LUMPUR – The Health Ministry has decided to stop compulsory Covid-19 testing for individuals entering Langkawi from today onwards.
In a statement, Health Minister Khairy Jamaluddin said the decision was made after the percentage of tourists found positive was recorded at only 0.4% (216 people) of 54,341 tourists who took the test to enter the island from September 16 until yesterday.
“Only one tourist showed symptoms when in Langkawi, and was found positive for Covid-19 through a RT-PCR test. Investigations revealed that the source of infection was not in Langkawi.
“No Covid-19 clusters were detected either from the travel bubble in Langkawi,” he said today.
Despite the lifting of the requirement, Khairy stressed that the condition that adult tourists must be fully vaccinated will remain and must be complied with.
“Individuals that are found to be positive and are currently under isolation and observation, or individuals identified as close contacts to positive cases undergoing quarantine and supervision, are not allowed to travel.
“Those suffering from symptoms such as fever, cough, and flu are advised to delay their travel plans,” he said.
Khairy advised individuals planning to travel interstate to conduct Covid-19 self-tests prior to their trips to protect themselves and Keluarga Malaysia from being infected by Covid-19.
His announcement comes after the Health Ministry made it compulsory on September 16 for those who wish to visit Langkawi to get themselves tested for Covid-19 before going to the island.
Potential visitors must take either the RT-PCR test or the RTK-Ag swab test at any public or private healthcare facilities within 48 hours before they depart for Langkawi. – The Vibes, October 12, 2021
