Singapore, Malaysia reopen land border amid worries over the Omicron variant
Gulf Times
A mother and child get their temperatures checked as they prepare to board a bus back to Malaysia, as the Vaccinated Travel Lane between Singapore and Malaysia opens after the land border between the two countries reopened nearly two years of being shut down due to the coronavirus disease (Covid-19) pandemic, at a bus station in Singapore November 29, 2021.
Singapore and Malaysia reopened one of the world's busiest land borders on Monday, allowing vaccinated travellers to cross after nearly two years of being shut due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
Although travellers welcomed the chance to reunite with family and friends, there were concerns the border might be closed again due to the new Omicron coronavirus variant.
As many as 300,000 Malaysians commuted daily to Singapore before the pandemic. The sudden closing of the border in March 2020 left tens of thousands stranded on both sides, separated from families and fearing for their jobs.
At the Queen Street bus terminal in Singapore, a few dozen people waiting to board the first buses to Malaysia expressed caution.
