Covid-19 after Genting trip: Health director says Pahang side resolved

 

Pahang Health director Dr Bahari Che Awang Ngah said authorities could not pinpoint whether workers in Genting Highlands or visitors were responsible for a Covid-19 cluster linked to a tour group that had also spread in Kedah.

However, he said the Covid-19 spread on the Pahang side had already been contained.

This was after three localities in Genting Highlands were placed under enhanced movement control order (EMCO) on May 10. The EMCO was lifted yesterday, five days earlier than scheduled (May 23).

"After we detected positive cases among business operators in Genting Highlands, authorities carried out an investigation and placed localities there under EMCO.

"All measures needed including cleaning works have been carried out. The area has been cleared (to reopen)," he told Malaysiakini when contacted today.

According to Bahari, the State Health Department has been notified about the cases involving tourists from Kedah who went to Genting Highlands last month under the tourism travel bubble.

However, the source of infection has yet to be determined.

Bahari (above) said that there were several possibilities, including that the tourists spread the virus among themselves, given that 16 members of the group who shared the same bus had caught Covid-19.

He stressed that the main issue at hand is on compliance with standard operating procedures (SOPs) to prevent Covid-19.

"This is Covid-19. The main issue is with SOP compliance. There is no point blaming who gave who.

"It could be that tourists who went to Genting caught the virus there, and it also could be that they were the ones who spread it to Genting.

"But if everyone follows the 3W and avoids 3S advice, the virus won't spread. Travel bubble does not mean SOPs can be neglected," Bahari said.

He was referring to the Health Ministry's advice for Covid-19 prevention, namely 3W (wash hands, wear masks, warn others), and avoid 3S (crowded place, confined space, and having close conversation).

Yesterday, Kedah exco in charge of health and local government Dr Mohd Hayati Othman said 16 Covid-19 cases in Kedah were traced to a tour group which had travelled from Alor Setar to Genting Highlands in mid-April.

The trip was done under the government-sanctioned tourism bubble that allowed travel between recovery MCO states. At the time, both Pahang and Kedah were under recovery MCO.

However, the tourism bubble policy was suspended on May 4. - Mkini