Compliance with SOPs during Melaka polls curbed Covid-19 cases: state govt

JASIN – The high vaccination rate and strict adherence to standard operating procedures during the Melaka election were able to keep the rate of Covid-19 infection under control, curbing the outbreak of clusters.

State Health and Anti-Drug Committee chairman Dr Muhamad Akmal Saleh said Covid-19 cases only increased by 4.3% within two weeks starting November 20 (after the Melaka state election ended) until December 5.

“There was an increase of 2,989 cases from November 20 to last Sunday, an increase of 4.3% compared to the Sabah state election, which recorded an increase of more than 70% in the first week.

“So, this is a positive indicator of all the efforts that the government had carried out in dealing with this pandemic,” he told reporters at Lipat Kajang here today.

Akmal said only one cluster was identified involving the Melaka polls, stemming from a Covid-19-positive instructor from a tahfiz centre who served as a member of a party’s machinery during the election campaign.

He said it involved the Pulau Gadong cluster which encompassed two schools in the area – after the individual was found to be positive on November 25 – with so far a total of 41 students and staff found positive after screening was conducted on 185 close contacts.

“The two tahfiz centres have also been ordered to close for two weeks until December 17 and 18 while all those who are positive aged 9 to 33 are placed at the Covid-19 Low Risk Quarantine and Treatment Centre at MITC Ayer Keroh,” he said. – Bernama, December 6, 2021