Langkawi Tourism Bubble Has First COVID-19 Positive Case

The Kedah Health Department has confirmed the first COVID-19 positive case as a result of the Langkawi tourism bubble.

As reported by the New Straits Times, a 3-year-old child is the first COVID-19 case that has been detected to come have come tourists under the Langkawi tourism bubble. 

According to Kedah Health Director Dr. Othman Warijo based on investigations conducted by the Langkawi District Health Office, the family of three, both the parents and the child, originating from Nilai, arrived in Langkawi on September 24 at 7.30pm via a flight from klia2.

He went on to add that the child began having fever the next day and was sent for treatment on Sept 26 before being confirmed COVID-19 positive.

So far only one positive case has been reported involving tourists under the Langkawi tourism bubble. 

"The patient has mild symptoms and been placed under the Langkawi District CAC (Covid-19 Assessment Centre) observation while the close contacts have shown no symptoms and all have been fully vaccinated," Dr. Othman Warijo said in a statement. 

Investigations revealed that there were five individuals who had come into close contact with the child, both of the child's parents and three locals from the resort. All five individuals have undergone swab tests that have come back negative but will still undergo quarantine for 10 days. 

Dr. Othman further added that there was a chance that the child could have been infected before traveling to Langkawi and that further contact tracing was ongoing. 

This comes on the back of the reopening of other tourism bubble locations like Melaka, Tioman island, and Genting Highlands beginning October 1. 

According to National Recovery Council (MPN) chairman and former prime minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin interstate travel is expected to be allowed as early as mid-October. 

This coincides with the projection that 90% of Malaysia’s adult population is expected to be fully vaccinated by that time, following a previous statement by current prime minister Dato' Sri Ismail Sabri bin Yaakob that interstate travel will be relaxed.