MASJID TANAH – The biggest chicken-processing factory in Melaka’s Masjid Tanah industrial area was ordered shut for two weeks yesterday after 175 of its workers tested positive for Covid-19.
State Health and Anti-Drugs Committee chairman Datuk Rahmad Mariman said most of the affected workers are foreigners.
According to a Berita Harian report, the Health Department has yet to declare the factory a Covid-19 cluster.
“Inspection is ongoing on the low-risk Covid-19 quarantine and treatment centre where the workers will stay.
“The state government has also discussed with the company’s management on the possibility of evacuating all workers to a flat owned by Melaka State Development Corporation near the area.
“This is because the foreign workers’ hostel is located in shoplot houses, and is not suitable to accommodate too many workers,” he said.
Rahmad said that Covid-19 testing is being conducted on 600 workers today.
Yesterday, Melaka recorded two new clusters – the Batu Berendam Industry cluster in central Melaka district involving a factory, and Taman Kesang Indah cluster in Jasin involving a family.
The state Health Department said that the Batu Berendam Industry cluster stems from a lack of social-distancing practices among workers. A total of 13 workers tested positive for the virus, 82 were negative and 36 are awaiting results as of this morning.
The Taman Kesang Indah cluster involves several families that had gathered for a breaking-of-fast session during Ramadan.
A total of 26 have tested positive from this cluster, while 19 are negative and 11 are awaiting results.
Melaka recorded 175 new Covid-19 cases as of mid-afternoon yesterday, with 75 in central Melaka, Alor Gajah (65) and Jasin (35).
Of the total, 170 were locals, three were imported cases and two cases involved prisoners. – The Vibes, May 23, 2021
