Three new Covid-19 clusters in Bukit Bintang, Hulu Langat and Kuching

CORONAVIRUS | The Health Ministry has reported just six new Covid-19 cases today, while three new infection clusters have been identified in Kuala Lumpur, Selangor and Sarawak.

Speaking during his press briefing in Putrajaya today, Health Ministry director-general Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah said the three are the Bukit Bintang cluster, Hulu Langat condominium cluster and Kuching construction site cluster.

The three clusters have recorded a total of 16 positive cases to date, of which 10 were detected at Bukit Bintang, and three each at the Hulu Langat and Kuching clusters.

Of the six new cases over the past 24 hours (as of noon today), two were imported involving a Malaysian returning from Mexico and an Indian permanent resident.

Of the remaining four locally transmitted cases, one was identified from the tahfiz centre screening, while three cases came from the three new clusters.

This brings the total number of Covid-19 infections to date to 8,596 cases, with 244 active cases.

There is no new fatality, and as such, the death toll remained at 121.

Meanwhile, the Health Ministry data also recorded 45 full recoveries as of noon today.

This brings the total number of recoveries to 8,231 or 95.8 percent of total cases to date.

New clusters

In detailing the Bukit Bintang cluster, Noor Hisham said nine of the 10 positive cases detected as of noon today comprised non-citizens, all Bangladeshi nationals, and one Malaysian.

“The index case for the cluster (case 8498) involved a foreign national who was diagnosed on June 15 upon undergoing a Covid-19 screening prior to starting work.

“(Subsequent) investigations and tests were conducted on all close contacts. To date, 274 people have been tested,” he said, adding from the tests, nine positive cases were identified.

Seven of the foreign cases were housemates with the index case, while the Malaysian is described as a woman who lives in Selangor.

The source of the infection is being investigated.

Noor Hisham said the Kuching cluster came to light when a third linked case was diagnosed upon undergoing a Covid-19 test at a private clinic.

The patient was the supervisor of two Indonesian workers found to be positive on June 16 from tests at the construction site.

To date, 426 related individuals have been screened, with 62 found to be clear of the infection and 364 others are awaiting test results.

Lastly, on the Hulu Langat condominium cluster, Noor Hisham described the index case (case 8368) as a tahfiz student who had been diagnosed on June 8.

Two further cases were detected after active tracing was carried out. These involved a foreign national (case 5818) - the step-uncle of the index case - and the former’s co-worker.

Up to 40 related individuals have been screened and seven are awaiting test results with the remaining 30 were cleared.

- Mkini