Travellers to Labuan must undergo three-day test for Covid-19.

By: Haseena Syazlin

14-day mandatory quarantine among new restrictions for travellers to Labuan. | Photo from: Google

KUALA LUMPUR, 25 MAY 2021: Travelers to Labuan will face a number of additional restrictions, including the requirement to take the reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) three days before entering the territory, effective May 27 until June 9.

"Daily transporter card holders are required to take the PCR test every two weeks and are required to undergo RTK Antigen test every week," Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob, Senior Minister (Security Cluster) said in a statement today.

Apart from that, travelers are also required to undergo a 10-day mandatory house quarantine for Labuan residents and a 14-day quarantine at hotels for foreign visitors.

“Servants are also subjected to a 10-day quarantine in their homes or hotels,” he said.

Ismail Sabri said that although kumpit boat services are currently suspended, sign off is permitted, provided they have gone through the 14 days of quarantine and to undergo one RT-PCR test.

In this regard, Ismail Sabri stated that the Enhanced Movement Control Order (EMCO) will be enforced for two weeks from May 27 to June 9 in several localities and sub-districts in Perak, Johor, and Sarawak in response to rising cases in the localities.

In Perak, the EMCO affects the Bagan Serai sub-district in Kerian. This is because, there were 53 positive cases in the area as of yesterday (May 24), based on 144 screening tests conducted by the Ministry of Health (MOH).

"MOH also found current cases are scattered in the sub-district and was not focused in one particular area with high infectivity rate while the incidence rate jumped from 42.5 in the EPID (epidemiology) week 20 to 62.6 in EPID week 21. The implementation of EMCO will reduce the movement of residents in and outside of the sub-district as well as movements to the neighbouring states,” he said.

According to Ismail Sabri, the implementation of EMCO in Johor included Felda Redong 1, Labis sub-district in Segamat, and cases were found spreading throughout the area with a high infectivity rate.

“To date, MOH has conducted 361 screening tests and 67 of them were confirmed positive. The imposition of EMCO is to facilitate MOH carry out early detection of cases as well as to curb the movement of residents from other localities,” he said.

Meanwhile, in Daro, Sarawak, the EMCO affected Rumah Panjang Isa Anak Blone, Rumah Panjang Ben Anak Kuleng, and Sekolah Kebangsaan Telok Gelam.

“MOH reported a spike in cases in one week when 12 positive cases were recorded from screening tests on 153 people in the three localities and the EMCO is to facilitate MOH carry out targeted screening on the residents to contain the spread of COVID-19 to other areas,” he said.

Regarding the operation on MCO standard operating procedure (SOP) compliance, Ismail Sabri stated that 694 people were arrested for violating SOP yesterday, with 685 being issued compounds, eight being remanded, and one was released on bail.

Among the offences included not adhering to physical distancing 179 cases, failure to record customer details (166), not wearing face mask (129), illegal interstate or inter-district travel (63), not complying to movement control (58) and other offences (99).