Malaysia — One positive case of Covid-19 was found at the Johor Causeway entry point on the first day of Singapore-Malaysia Vaccinated Travel Lane (VTL) on Monday (Nov 29).
Health Minister Khairy Jamaluddin said the infection was detected as passengers took an antigen test when they arrived, reported Malaysia’s national news agency Bernama.
“This matter is being verified through confirmative testing using RT-PCR. We want to use the RT-PCR test to confirm the results of the RTK-Antigen test,” he said.
The other passengers on the bus, the traveller who tested positive took, are being subjected to a risk assessment by the Johor Bahru District Health Office. These other travellers may need to be quarantined or be given additional restrictions.
The Malaysian Health Minister added that he believes the detection of one positive case will not derail the VTL.
“Instead, it should be an example of how pre-departure and on-arrival testing and the like are necessary preventive measures. There will be positive cases but the important thing is our diagnostic capability and requirements as well as risk assessment undertaken by PKD when such cases happen,” he added.
The land border between Singapore and Malaysia were reopened on Monday (Nov 29) for the first time since March 2020.
The opening was witnessed by the Prime Ministers of both countries, Mr Lee Hsien Loong and Ismail Sabri Yaakob on Monday morning, which was live-streamed by PM Lee on his Facebook page.
It was the Malaysian Prime Minister’s first official visit to Singapore since assuming office in August.
As many as 1,440 citizens, permanent residents or long-term pass holders may travel between the two countries every day without needing to be quarantined.
And while many people have been eager to be reunited with family and friends after nearly two years apart, some have expressed fears over the newly-discovered Omicron variant of the coronavirus responsible for the current pandemic, according to a Reuters report.
Passengers are required to take a Covid-19 test before boarding, and both countries are also requiring an on-arrival test.
The two countries have achieved high vaccination rates, with 85 per cent for Singapore and 80 per cent for Malaysia.
Air travel also resumed between the two countries on Nov 29, but only for fully-vaccinated passengers. /TISG