Covid-19: Don't worry about spike in cases, says Health DG

PUTRAJAYA (Bernama): The public need not worry about the increase in the number of Covid-19 cases detected at the three immigration detention depots (DTIs) as the DTIs are in isolated areas and under control by local authorities, says Health director-general Datuk Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah.

He said the Ministry of Health (MOH) would continue to cooperate with the Immigration Department, Royal Malaysia Police (PDRM) and other government agencies to manage the Covid-19 cases involving DTIs.

Dr Noor Hisham said the MOH had detected 112 cases at the three DTIs in Sepang, Bukit Jalil and Semenyih out of the 172 new cases reported Monday (May 25).

"Thus far overall, 227 positive cases have been detected at the three DTIs involving non-Malaysians, with 53 cases involving citizens from Bangladesh, India (41), Indonesia (38), Myanmar (37), Pakistan (28), China (17), Cambodia (4), Nepal (3), Sri Lanka (2) and one each from the Philippines, Libya, Egypt and Syria.

"Various preventive activities have already been carried out, for example disinfection, health education like personal hygiene, washing hands with water and soap regularly as well as emphasising on social distancing, he said at his daily press conference on Covid-19.

Dr Noor Hisham said a new cluster had been detected at the Sepang DTI and that as of today, a total of 1,449 samples had been taken, with 36 positive cases detected (29 of which were reported today), 540 negative and 873 samples still awaiting results.

For the Bukit Minyak cluster, a total of 1,536 samples have been taken from 1,422 detainees and 114 personnel. Out of the total, 126 tested positive, 514 negative and 896 waiting for results.

For the Semenyih cluster, a total of 1,757 samples have been taken from 1,630 detainees and 127 staff members. Out of the total, 66 tested positive, 753 negative and 938 waiting for results.

Dr Noor Hisham said that to ensure the full detection of all Covid-19 cases, the MOH, through District Health Offices, would proceed to its next plan of action by adopting a targeted approach.

"For example, investigation; close contact tracing; risk assessment by relevant agencies; active screening for symptoms and samples for case detection; positive cases to be isolated and treated at hospitals; and close contacts to be placed under the Observation and Surveillance Order for Covid-19 Contact under Section 15(1) of Act 342,” he said.

Dr Noor Hisham also said that an administrative personnel at the Semenyih DTI was confirmed to be Covid-19 positive and the MOH would screen the person’s family members as well as carry out contact tracing.

He added that officers and personnel from all three affected DTIs had been quarantined and replaced by new staff.

According to him, the MOH had screened all detainees and personnel while investigation into the cause of the infection was still going on.

"Disinfection and screening are being carried out, there’s a possibility the infection could have been due to confined spaces,” said Dr Noor Hisham. - Bernama