The Malaysian Insight

MORE than half of the 2,913 Covid-19 clusters reported since March 28 were linked to workplaces, the director-general of health said today.

The date is the start of the second phase of the third wave of Covid-19 infections, Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah said today.

Of the total number of clusters since then, 53.2% or 1,549 were workplace clusters, and 764 of them are still active.

These workplace clusters are responsible for 133,247 positive cases and 370 deaths.

There are still 32 patients from these clusters who are being treated at intensive care units (ICUs).

Providing a sectoral breakdown, Noor Hisham said factories reported the most number of clusters at 780, followed by services with 260, and construction with 181.

Selangor reported the highest number of clusters with 414, followed by Johor with 322 and Kuala Lumpur with 149.

“The efforts to reduce workplace clusters requires stern measures, emphasising on compliance to standard operating procedure at workplace, vaccination of workers and strict enforcement,” he said.

The ministry has also updated the Covid-19: Management Guidelines For Workplaces (ANNEX 25), for the reference of employers and employees to prevent outbreaks.

Apart from that, engagement sessions were also held with trade bodies such as the Malaysian Employers Federation, Federation of Malaysian Manufacturers, SME Association of Malaysia, SME Corp as well as representatives from the International Trade and Industry and Human Resources Ministries, and the Labour Department.

He also reminded stakeholders such as employers, community leaders and employees to ensure compliance to SOP, ventilation of premises and that health protocols such as isolation and screening are adhered to.

“We have to take the responsibility together.”

He said the Health Ministry is cognisant of the government’s decision to reopen the economic and social sectors to strike a balance between lives and livelihoods, and has to work hard to break the chain of infections.

Noor Hisham added that the seven-day average of daily cases is still in the 20,000 range.

Other clusters in the total since March 28 are 880 community clusters with 58,776 positive cases and 417 deaths. 

Of these clusters, 439 are still active and 14 people still being treated at ICUs.

He said although gatherings during festivals, visits and social functions were restricted under the movement-control order, these activities were among the main contributors of these clusters.

A total of 481 clusters stemmed from visits, 44 from longhouse communities and 55 were linked to festivities. – August 18, 2021.