KOTA TINGGI – The Health Ministry (MoH) is expecting an increase in Covid-19 infections following nationwide contact tracing among migrant workers at construction sites and factories.
Covid-19 screenings were made compulsory for migrant workers starting yesterday, and Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Adham Baba said it involved 800,000 people in the Federal Territories, Selangor, Negeri Sembilan, Penang and Sabah.
He said that the ministry is likely to add up to 10,000 beds at the Malaysia Agro Exposition Park Serdang (MAEPS) quarantine and treatment centre to cater for the increase in Covid-19 patients.
He said a total of 70,000 migrant workers underwent screenings from August until December 31 last year.
Dr Adham said MoH would immediately isolate those who tested positive and expedite contact tracing to prevent the virus from spreading.
He said this after attending Tenggara division Wanita UMNO delegates meeting here today.
Dr Adham said the Social Security Organisation (Socso) provided the RTK Antigen test kits for migrant workers and employers would bear the cost of services charged by clinics or hospitals.
He said that currently unemployed migrants in Malaysia will be sent to immigration detention centres, where the cost of the Covid-19 screenings would be borne by the government.
He added that those in immigration detention centres will be repatriated if they tested positive for the virus. – Bernama, January 2, 2021
