ALOR STAR: A popular hotel in Kedah's tourism jewel, Langkawi, has been ordered to close temporarily after more than 50 staff and their family members tested positive for Covid-19.
State Health director Dr Othman Warijo said that since Friday, 249 people have been screened with 59 testing positive.
Another 192 people tested negative while three others are still awaiting their swab test results.
"On Oct 1, the state Health Department reported the emergence of the Dah Teluk Nibung cluster in Langkawi. The case transmission has been categorised as a workplace cluster.
"As of today, this cluster comprised local staff and close contacts involving family members," he said in a statement today.
Dr Othman said initial investigations suggested that the transmission began from the community before spreading to the workplace.
Following the outbreak, he said the hotel management has agreed to voluntarily shut down its operations temporarily.
"All the identified close contacts have undergone Covid-19 screening and have been placed under a Home Surveillance Order (HSO) for 10 days.
"So far, we have managed to control and contain the transmission of the virus," he said.
Langkawi island was reopened to visitors on Sept 16 for individuals who had completed two doses of Covid-19 vaccination, under the country's travel bubble pilot project.
Under the pilot project, all visitors were required to undergo Covid-19 screening prior to travelling to the island.