PUTRAJAYA: A new Covid-19 cluster has been detected at the Sepang Immigration Depot where 36 individuals have tested positive for the disease.
Health director-general Datuk Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah said as of noon today, 1,449 samples had been taken.
"Of the 36 cases, 29 were reported today and of the total number of samples taken, 540 tested negative, while the remaining 873 are still awaiting results," he said at a press conference today.
To date, the ministry has reported three cluster cases at Immigration detention centres - Bukit Jalil, Semenyih and Sepang.
On the Bukit Jalil immigration depot cluster, he said 1,536 samples have been taken from 1,422 detainees and 114 staff.
"Of the total, 126 are Covid-19 positive, 514 negative and 896 awaiting results."
On the Semenyih immigration depot cluster, Dr Noor Hisham said the ministry has taken 1,757 samples from 1,630 detainees and 127 staff.
"Of this, 66 tested positive and 753 negative, while the remaning 938 are still waiting for their results."
Overall, he said 227 Covid-19 positive cases have been identified at the three depots, involving undocumented migrant workers.
The majority of them are from Bangladesh (53 immigrants), followed by India (41), Indonesia (38), Myanmar (37), Pakistan (28), China (17), Cambodia (four), Nepal (three), Sri Lanka (two), and one each from the Philippines, Libya, Egypt and Syria.
"Various prevention and control activities have been carried out, such as disinfection, health education on practising good hygiene, frequent hand washing using water and soap and the emphasis on social distancing," Dr Noor Hisham said.
He said to ensure Covid-19 cases are fully detected, the Health Ministry though the Distric health offices will continue with the next step, which is to use targeted approach.
This, he said, includes investigation, close contact detection, risk assessment, and active screening for symptoms and samples for case detection.
"Positive cases will be isolated and treated in the hospital, while close contacts will be placed under the Covid-19 Contact Monitoring and Observation Order under Section 15 (1) of Act 342.
"The Health Ministry will continue to work with the Immigration Department, the police and other government agencies on the management of Covid-19 cases involving Immigration Detention Depots," he added.