A NUMBER of Malaysian travellers are currently stranded in London as they tested positive prior to their flight back home.
They were caught off-guard and totally unprepared for such a drastic change in their holiday plans — ranging from expenses of getting new accommodation, further polymerase chain reaction (PCR) tests and other uncertainties.
The latest variant, Omicron, reportedly presents mild symptoms that those infected would not be able to know that they were positive until the mandatory test before flying.
Omicron is said to have been able to infect those already vaccinated and even re-infect those who have been infected by the Delta variant.
With the relaxing of measures by the British government to allow tourists in from several countries, Malaysia included, we are seeing many Malaysians arriving for a holiday with their families — the Christmas and New Year sales were the attractions.
Bargain hunters going to the shopping centres, like Oxford Street for example, were crammed in tubes and buses.
The London transport had been hit by staff shortage (many had taken sick leave as they too had been infected).
From the sombre images at Christmas and New Year, we have now started to see the harmful effects from Omicron as more stories of people being sick are beginning to emerge.
Based on the information from the Malaysian High Commission in London, as of Jan 5, a total of 27 communications have been received from Malaysians here, representing 39 individuals mainly on their inability to travel back to Malaysia after testing positive for Covid-19.
Out of the 27 cases, only one involves hospitalisation.
The rest are held back due to the delay in obtaining recovery certification to enable them to take their flights back to Malaysia.
At Putera Puteri restaurant in London yesterday, Noor Amy Ismail was busy preparing food packs to be sent to a family stranded just outside London.
Her staff was on standby to deliver the food, along with some other food items donated by Malaysians in London.
At a table nearby, a young Malaysian tourist was having her lunch. She had just recovered from Covid-19 and awaiting her test result so she could fly home.
"We received a message from friends in Malaysia about this family. So we are doing whatever we can," said Noor Amy.
The family was about to fly home when they were tested positive, with one member of the family admitted to hospital and intubated. Having already checked out of their hotel, they fortunately could afford to rent an accommodation nearby.
Malaysians in London were quick to rally help, some who live nearby pooled their resources and deliver food and even offer emotional support for the young family.
Another restaurant, Nur Muhammad, also reached out to offer help.
The Malaysian High Commission in London also offered whatever assistance in any way it could, although the restrictions that were in place due to the nature of the pandemic had posed new challenges to those wanting to help.
Since December last year, the United Kingdom has been registering record numbers of Covid-19 infections of the Omicron variant.
As such, Malaysians who plan to travel to the UK are advised to be informed of the latest trend in infections and make an informed decision about their trip to the UK.
The High Commission also advised that those who still wanted to travel to the UK need to be fully aware of the travel regulations for entry into this country and other prevailing local circumstances.
And more importantly, travellers are advised to obtain travel and medical insurance, and ensure that they have sufficient funds or other alternatives should they need to extend their stay in the UK.
It is not unknown that some caring Malaysians in London would go the extra mile to open their doors to a stranded Malaysian, but Covid-19 has put a limit to what they could offer albeit, keeping a safe distance and observing the strict rule of self-isolating.
Even then at their own risks.
Another family, while recovering, had to do several tests for their 2-year-old toddler. Fortunately, they could afford the cost of the tests and also get an apartment.
As Britain is running out of lateral flow test kits, which are offered free to people in the country, it is also advisable for travellers to bring their own kits so that tests could be done
before and after going to crowded areas.
Being infected by Covid-19 just as you are planning to return home from a holiday is surely not how anybody would want to remember their trip.