Sri Petaling subcluster found in Rembau, sparked by visits in violation of MCO

CORONAVIRUS | A new subcluster of Covid-19 infections originating from the Sri Petaling religious gathering late February has been found in Rembau, Negri Sembilan, according to Health Ministry director-general Noor Hisham Abdullah.

He said Patient 448 who had contracted the virus at the Sri Petaling gathering had infected people at a school meeting in Rembau and the infection was further amplified when relatives visited those who had fallen ill in violation of the Movement Control Order (MCO).

"The Health Ministry has traced a subcluster in the Rembau district linked to the Sri Petaling gathering.

"This is a cluster involving school staff from a few localities in Rembau (Pedas, Pilin, Kundur and Batu Hampar).

"As of April, at noon, 27 people have been tested positive for Covid-19, including two who are in the intensive care unit (ICU)," Noor Hisham told a press conference in Putrajaya today.

Noor Hisham said the subcluster came onto the Health Ministry's radar after a number of teachers at a school in Rembau were tested positive for Covid-19.

"The spread is believed to have happened during a meeting at the school which was attended by an index case (Case 448) who was a participant at the Sri Petaling tabligh gathering.

"The teachers and staff who were infected subsequently infected their family members and residents in their village, spreading to third generation," he said.

A third-generation infection means the virus has jumped from an infected person to a different person three consecutive times.

Noor Hisham Abdullah (in black windbreaker) at today's briefing

"Investigations found that there were those among them visiting relatives to see family members who were unwell even though the country is under MCO," he said.

Noor Hisham reiterated the importance for everyone to comply with the MCO and expressed concern that Covid-19 may continue to spread.

He pointed out that "Patient 2,903", who was the 64th Covid-19 death reported today, had also violated the MCO.

"During the MCO period, there were still movements and activities such as visiting relatives including by those who are unwell or are under home surveillance even though it is not allowed.

"For example, the 64th patient who died had, with a few others, travelled out (of his location) to two states even though the MCO was already in force beginning March 18.

"The number of vehicles on the roads is also increasing. The Health Ministry is worried that non-compliance will further increase the spread of Covid-19," he said.

"Patient 2,903", a 58-year-old Malaysian woman, passed away at Tuanku Ja'afar Hospital in Negeri Sembilan yesterday at 3.20pm.

Malaysia had been under a partial lockdown since March 19.

The MCO was supposed to end on March 31 but was extended until April 14.

Under the MCO, all non-essential businesses and services must close while people are only allowed to leave their homes for approved reasons.

Foreigners are also not allowed into the country while Malaysians cannot leave. - Mkini