Covid-19: 13 new clusters detected, 12 linked to workplaces, another to religious event

PUTRAJAYA: The Health Ministry has detected 13 new Covid-19 infection clusters, which means there are now 431 active ones in the country.

Health director-general Tan Sri Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah (pic) said 12 of the new clusters were linked to workplaces, while one is an outbreak related to a religious event in Kedah.

The religious event outbreak is named the Jalan Sekerat cluster and the positive cases are individuals who attended a meeting in Sungai Petani.

“The index case of this cluster first tested positive for the virus on March 7, after developing symptoms.

“Some 52 individuals have been screened and now there are 17 positive cases from this cluster, ” said Dr Noor Hisham in a statement on Monday (March 15).

One of the workplace clusters involves staff of an accommodation located at the holiday island of Pulau Tioman.

Named the Kampung Air Batang cluster, Dr Noor Hisham said 27 individuals had been screened, and 15 positive cases were detected.

“The index case developed symptoms before testing positive for Covid-19 on March 12, ” said Dr Noor Hisham.

Earlier, Senior Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob had announced separately that an enhanced movement control order has been imposed in Pulau Tioman from March 16, after the outbreak was discovered.

The island will be under lockdown for 14 days until March 29, and a mass screening exercise will be conducted on its residents.