SHAH ALAM – The surge in Covid-19 cases in Selangor announced by the Health Ministry yesterday was due to the backlog of cases from the screening at factories, prisons, clinics and private hospitals, that were not reported in real time.
Selangor Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Amirudin Shari in a statement today said the backlog of cases was over the past 10 days.
“To overcome this problem, the Selangor Health Department (JKNS) will impose compounds on private clinics or hospitals that do not report positive cases directly on the same day through the Public Health Laboratory Information System (Simka),” he said.
Amirudin said the issue was brought up by JKNS at the State Security Special Committee Meeting for Covid-19 Control yesterday, following the sharp increase in new daily cases.
At the same time, he said, the state government will implement the Preventing Outbreak at Ignition Site (POIS) programme in factories statewide, as these sites have been identified as the cause of widespread Covid-19 transmission.
He said POIS would be implemented in collaboration with JKNS, Selgate Corporation Sdn Bhd, all local authorities, and the Federation of Malaysian Manufacturers.
Amirudin said the state government also proposed that the federal government take firm action by closing factories that hide positive cases on their premises and do not cooperate in close contact tracing.
Meanwhile the state government also plans to increase the number of Covid-19 Assessment Centres especially in the Petaling, Hulu Langat and Gombak districts. The role of these centres is to assess Covid-19 patients and classify them into certain categories before they are taken to quarantine centres or hospitals for further treatment.
In addition, Amirudin said the Quarantine and Low-Risk Treatment Centre at the Malaysia Agro Exposition Park will be able to accommodate an additional 6,000 patients with the provision of more facilities including intensive care unit tents and medical equipment.
Amirudin called on the public to join hands in breaking the Covid-19 chain of infection by adhering strictly to the set standard operating procedures.
“Continue to wear face masks and heed physical distancing. Selangor is our responsibility. With this spirit of togetherness, we will be able to break the infection chain,” he said
Yesterday, the country recorded the highest daily positive cases at 5,725 with Selangor registering 3,126 cases, followed by Kuala Lumpur (687 cases), and Johor (684 cases). – Bernama, January 30, 2021
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