Before interstate travel is allowed, Malaysians are urged to conduct COVID-19 self-test before balik kampung

Malaysia is expected to lift interstate travel restrictions in the next few days as 88.8% of the adult population has been fully vaccinated as of 6th October. The government has announced that interstate borders will be open once 90% of total adults have completed their vaccination.

To ensure everyone travels safely especially when visiting elderly parents in hometowns, Health Minister Khairy Jamaluddin is urging individuals in high contact and mobility settings to get themselves tested regularly. He said those who plan to Balik kampung are recommended to do an RTK saliva test to keep them safe.

Health Director-General Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah has also reminded everyone to take all precautions after interstate travel restrictions are lifted. This includes wearing a face mask, washing your hands frequently, and practicing physical distancing. He also recommends periodic saliva RTK Ag self-testing to keep your loved ones and family safe.

As of 5th October, the Medical Device Authority (MDA) under the Ministry of Health has approved a total of 24 self test kits. Before making a purchase, make sure that you’re buying an approved kit at licensed pharmacies and clinics. There are several types of rapid test kits in the market that uses nasal swab, saliva, or both.

When the first batch of self test kits was first introduced, they retail for RM39.90 each. The government has recently set a ceiling price of RM19.90 effective 5th September. These test kits can often produce results within 15 minutes and you must submit the results through MySejahtera.

A person who is fully vaccinated still has the risk of getting infected. When the Langkawi travel bubble was launched, authorities have made it a requirement for all travellers to produce a negative COVID-19 test result before they can board their flight or ferries. As shared by the Health D-G, a total of 40,458 individuals have been screened in a period of two weeks and 149 people were found positive. Travellers who were found positive are not allowed to continue with their journey.

Kedah Menteri Besar Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor said the decision to require COVID-19 screening test was a wise move to protect the tourism bubble. He said the screenings are beneficial and effective because category one and two positive cases usually have no symptoms.

AirAsia has recently announced that they are making full vaccinations a requirement on all flights effective immediately. However, children below 18 who are not vaccinated are still allowed to fly but they must be accompanied by a fully vaccinated parent or guardian.

Based on the current progress in the past few days, Malaysia has been increasing its adult vaccination rate by 0.4% on a daily basis. If the pace is maintained, Malaysia is expected to hit the 90% target by end of Sunday, 10th October 2021. The authorities are expected to make an announcement soon with full details of the SOP before state borders are open.

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