80 medical staff members from MOH test positive

PETALING JAYA: Eighty medical personnel from the Health Ministry have so far tested positive for the coronavirus, says Health director-general Datuk Seri Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah (pic).

He said based on investigations, none of the medical personnel were frontliners battling the disease at any of its facilities.

“However, we urge all medical personnel and frontliners to take the necessary precautionary measures to avoid (infection) as told, especially to ensure that they maintain their hygiene, observe social distancing and wear personnel protective gear set by the ministry, ” Dr Noor Hisham said in a statement yesterday.

The highest number of cases recorded was in Hospital Teluk Intan (HTI), Perak with a total of 39 cases, followed by Hospital Selayang (five), Hospital Raja Perempuan Zainab II (four), Hospital Seri Manjung, Perak (three), Hospital Tuanku Ja’afar, Seremban (three) and Hospital Shah Alam with two cases.

It was reported that only the emergency department and the observation ward of the Teluk Intan hospital have been closed for cleaning and disinfection purposes following the discovery that 37 medical staff had tested positive for Covid-19.

Dr Noor Hisham said the HTI management had taken strict control action with the assistance of the Hilir Perak district health office, with preventive measures to minimise exposure to hospital staff members being the main priority since the first case of positive Covid-19 infection was identified in the country.