Covid-19 case detected at Johor checkpoint on 1st day of land VTL

SHAH ALAM — The Malaysian authorities have detected a positive Covid-19 case at Johor’s entry point at the Causeway on the first day of the Singapore-Malaysia land Vaccinated Travel Lane (VTL) on Monday (Nov 29).

Malaysian health minister Khairy Jamaluddin said that the person was detected through an antigen rapid test conducted at the checkpoint.

National news agency Bernama quoted the minister as saying that the test result is being verified through a polymerase chain reaction test.

The Johor Baru Health Office was carrying out a risk assessment on the passengers who were on the same bus as the individual found positive, to decide whether they need to be quarantined or subjected to other restrictions, Mr Khairy said.

"Although there is one (positive) case, I do not consider it as something that can derail the VTL,” he told Bernama.

"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 the risk assessment undertaken by the Health Office when such cases happen.”

Johor state assembly's Public Works, Transportation and Infrastructure Committee chairman Mohd Solihan Badri said that the case involved a 21-year-old male passenger who has been placed in a quarantine centre.

Singapore’s Ministry of Trade and Industry said in a statement on Monday evening that it understands that a passenger who departed from Singapore for Malaysia, via the land VTL tested positive during the on-arrival Antigen Rapid Test (ART) in Malaysia.

It added that based on checks by the bus operators, all passengers who departed from Singapore to Malaysia had tested negative for the pre-departure Covid-19 test.

"The case is currently being handled by the Malaysian authorities in accordance with Malaysia’s health protocols," it said.   

In the first phase of the quarantine-free travel scheme for land borders, travellers must be citizens, permanent residents or long-term pass holders of the country that they are entering. They need to be tested for Covid-19 as part of the clearance process. 

They must also travel on designated buses run by two appointed operators.

Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said on Monday that general travellers who are vaccinated may be allowed from mid-December to cross the Causeway via a similar arrangement.