SHAH ALAM: A positive case of Covid-19 has been detected on the first day of the land Vaccinated Travel Lane (VTL-Land) between Malaysia and Singapore.
Health Minister Khairy Jamaluddin said the positive case was detected in the morning when screening was being done at the Malaysia entry point.
"Quick action is paramount to prevent the spread of infection including the new Omicron variant. All decisions are made based on science.
"This is why the ministry remains steadfast in carrying out screenings when they (travellers) reach the country's gateway, despite those entering via VTL-Land are required to undergo (Covid-19) screening 72 hours before their trip as any possibility can happen," he said in his keynote address during an appreciation programme for National Health Institute-Health Ministry frontliners here today.
Also present were Health director-general Tan Sri Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah and deputy director-general (research and technical support) Datuk Dr Hishamshah Mohd Ibrahim.
Khairy later told a press conference that the first case was detected using Rapid Test Kit-Antigen (RTK-Antigen) when the person arrived at the international gateway at the Johor Causeway.
Further diagnostic validation, he said, was being done using the Reverse Transcription Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR) and risk assessment being carried out on the rest of the bus passengers.
"The Johor Baru health district office is conducting a risk assessment on the bus passengers involved, whether they should undergo quarantine and others (mitigation measures)."
"Despite the one case, I will view the VTL not as a failure. In fact, it only highlights the importance of conducting screenings before departure and on arrival. There is no need to cancel the VTL just because of one case as we must live with it (the Covid-19 virus) because positive cases will always be around.
"This is an important matter as it involves our closest neighbour and the two countries' affairs, thus further details will be informed later."
