Covid-19: Langkawi hotel temporarily closed after over 50 staff infected

LANGKAWI: A popular hotel in Langkawi was ordered to close temporarily after more than 50 of its staff tested positive for Covid-19.

State health director Dr. Othman Warijo said the infection was categorized under work place clusters known as Dah Teluk Nibung involving hotel personnel.

"From our investigations, the infection originated from the community and spread to the hotel," he said when contacted.

He said a total of 249 individuals involving hotel staff and their family underwent screening, where 59 of them were found positive and 192 tested negative.

He said three individuals are still waiting for the results of the test, and added that

in an effort to prevent another wave of infection, the state health department has identified and screened all close contacts from the cluster.

Dr Othman added that all close contacts have been placed under a Home Surveillance Order (HSO) for ten days.

"So far, we managed to control and contain the transmission of the virus," he said.

Meanwhile, some 21 staff at another popular hotel in George Town are believed to be down with Covid-19.

State Health Committee chairman Dr Norlela Ariffin said initial investigations by the health authority found the staff were infected with the virus.

"From our investigations, the infection was among hotel staff, and we are still tracing the origin of the infections," she said when contacted.

It is learnt that the hotel will be asked by the authorities to close temporarily and the staff affected have been ordered to go for quarantine.