JOHOR BARU: More than 100,000 applications for the Covid-19 Prihatin Screening Programme (PSP Perkeso) were filed in the state.
State health and environment committee chairman R. Vidyananthan said the Social Security Organisation (Socso) received 141,538 applications as of May 16.
“Of the number, 48,769 comprised foreign workers in Johor, ” he said.
Vidyananthan said based on standard operating procedures (SOP) under the conditional movement control order (MCO), employers must ensure their workers undergo screening.
“They must send their workers, especially foreigners, for the tests before allowing them to come back to work.
“For this, Johor Social Security Organisation (Socso) has provided PSP Perkeso, a service to screen workers in Johor, ” he said.
Employers must ensure their workers undergo screening before allowing them to come back to work. - Filepic
He urged workers as well as employers who wanted to know more about the programme to call Socso’s hotline at 1-300-22-8000/02-4264 5555/03-8091 5100 or email perkeso@perkeso.gov.my.
“As for workers who are not registered under Socso, it is the employer’s responsibility to ensure they go through Covid-19 screening at selected private clinics.
“Local councils will continue to monitor the situation to ensure all follow the SOP, ” he said.
Vidyananthan said other precautions that employers must take included checking the temperature of workers daily.
“They are also required to provide hand sanitiser and wash basins for them to wash their hands frequently, ” he said, adding that maintaining social distancing as well as conducting regular cleaning and sanitisation of the workplace were among other steps to prevent the spread of the virus.
He said as of May 26, a total of 44 foreigners have tested positive for Covid-19 in Johor.
“Seven are still being treated in the hospital while the rest have since recovered, ” he said.
