Covid-19: Two new clusters detected in Selangor and Melaka (updated)

PUTRAJAYA: The Health Ministry has detected two new clusters on Monday(Oct 19), bringing the total of active clusters in the country to 87.

Health director-general Tan Sri Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah said that one of the new clusters is the Hentian cluster, adding that it is based at the Hulu Langat district in Selangor.

“The index case of this cluster tested positive for Covid-19 on Oct 15 from screenings conducted on symptomatic individuals, and was duly admitted to the Sungai Buloh Hospital.

“A screening of close contacts found six more positive cases. Another 120 individuals who have been screened are still waiting for their results, ” said Dr Noor Hisham at a press conference here on Monday.

Another cluster has been dubbed the Bukit cluster and involves the Melaka districts of Melaka Tengah, Alor Gajah and Jasin.

Dr Noor Hisham said the index case was also discovered from a Covid-19 screening on individuals with symptoms.

“The index case tested positive on Oct 13 and was admitted to the Melaka Hospital. A screening of the close contacts found 14 more positive cases. So far, 89 individuals have been screened with 73 testing negative for the virus. One individual is still waiting for their test result, ” he said.

Meanwhile, 31 of the 87 active clusters in the country recorded new cases on Monday.

The biggest increase is at the Kepayan Prison cluster in Sabah which saw another 135 new cases, bringing its total number of cases to 184.

Earlier, Senior Minister (Security) Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob announced that the Kepayan Prison and its staff quarters will be under an enhanced movement control order (MCO) starting Oct 20 to Nov 2.

The Tembok cluster, the country’s largest and most active cluster, saw only one new case.

The cluster, which is centred on the Alor Setar Prison, has a cumulative of 1,572 cases so far.

The Benteng LD cluster, which is based at the Tawau Prison and the Lahad Datu police headquarters lock-up, saw 15 new cases, bringing its total to 1,065.