ALOR SETAR: Kedah Menteri Besar Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor today has given an assurance that the Covid-19 outbreak at a prominent hotel in Langkawi will not affect the island’s tourism sector.
Sanusi said all necessary measures had been taken to control and contain the transmission of the virus to protect Langkawi’s position as the country’s first travel bubble pilot project.
“It will not have an adverse impact to Langkawi tourism sector. We have taken necessary steps to protect the island’s travel bubble.
“We are grateful that with the travel bubble pilot project, Langkawi’s tourism sector is being revived,” he told a press conference after receiving courtesy visit by Rural Development Minister Datuk Seri Mahdzir Khalid at Wisma Darul Aman here today.
Sanusi said he was informed by the Kedah health director that the outbreak had stemmed from one of the hotel employees’ home due to failure to comply with the standard operating procedure (SOP).
The virus then later spread to other hotel staff members.
“It was not an imported case brought in by visitors into the island, it was a domestic transmission which started at the hotel worker’s home,” he said.
Sanusi was commenting on the temporary closure of a popular hotel in Langkawi after more than 50 staff and their family members tested positive for Covid-19.
Yesterday, Kedah Health director Dr Othman Warijo had said the emergence of the Dah Teluk Nibung workplace cluster in Langkawi was reported on Oct 1.
He said 249 people had been screened with 59 testing positive comprised of local staff and close contacts involving family members.
All identified close contacts have undergone Covid-19 screening and have been placed under a Home Surveillance Order (HSO) for 10 days.
Langkawi island was reopened to visitors on Sept 16 for individuals who had completed two doses of Covid-19 vaccination, under the country’s travel bubble pilot project.
Under the pilot project, all visitors were required to undergo Covid-19 screening prior to travelling to the island.
Source: New Straits Times
