MELAKA – Only 2,628 foreign workers of a total 12,447 employed by 99 employers in the state have undergone Covid-19 screening from January 19 to 27.
Melaka Health and Anti-Drug Committee chairman Datuk Rahmad Mariman said the workers are employed in various sectors, including security, plantation, manufacturing, packaging, construction, engineering and service jobs.
The programme, implemented under the Melaka Social Security Organisation, has the cooperation of the state Manpower Department and the Department of Occupational Safety and Health (Dosh) Melaka through a special task force to track employers who have yet to send their foreign workers for Covid-19 screening.
“It is the responsibility of employers to ensure that their foreign workers undergo Covid-19 screening within these two weeks.
“The RTK Antigen screening tests can be conducted at any private clinic and hospital, and screening costs must be fully borne by the employer,” he said in a statement today.
The programme was enforced by the Human Resources Ministry under the Prevention and Control of Infectious Diseases Act 1988 (Act 342) to prevent the spread of Covid-19 among foreign workers.
Employers who fail to have their foreign workers screened may be fined not more than RM1,000 or jailed for a term not exceeding six months or both under Regulation 13 (1) of the Prevention and Control of Infectious Diseases (Measures within the Infected Local Areas) (No.9) (2020).
In another development, Rahmad said Jasin Hospital will be used to treat Covid-19 patients if the number of cases in the state continues to rise.
“Now, only Melaka Hospital serves as a hybrid Covid-19 hospital, besides treating non-Covid-19 patients, and the bed capacity has been increased to accommodate positive cases,” he said.
Melaka has also set up five Covid-19 assessment centres in three districts to assess whether Covid-19 patients are suitable to undergo isolation and monitoring at home or should be placed in hospitals or at quarantine and low-risk treatment centres, he added.
In Melaka, patients in category one (asymptomatic) and category two (mild symptoms) need to undergo monitoring and self-quarantine at home. – Bernama, January 29, 2021
