Bakri MP Yeo Bee Yin has called for the testing of staff and volunteers at all vaccination centres (PPVs) after 204 staff members at Ideal Convention Centre (IDCC), Shah Alam, tested positive for Covid-19.
The MP also suggested that regular testing should be mandated from now on, either by rapid tests or home-test kits.
“Mass test all the staff and volunteers at all other PPVs. (From) now on, should do testing regularly, can consider rapid-test or home-test kits,” she said in a tweet.
The IDCC PPV was shut down today (July 13) after 204 Covid-19 cases were detected among staff at the centre.
Minister in charge of vaccination Khairy Jamaluddin had ordered mass testing after two volunteers at IDCC contracted the virus.
He advised those who were vaccinated at the centre from 4pm last Friday (July 9) onwards to monitor themselves for 10 days to see if they develop symptoms.
Yeo, claiming the PPV outbreak was a cluster, provided other suggestions to handle the situation such as getting the Covid-19 Immunisation Task Force (CITF) team to contact everyone who has been at IDCC to ensure they self-isolate, as not everyone reads the news.
She also suggested a one- to two-week grace period before the affected undergo outbreak-free testing at their nearby clinics.
In a separate tweet, she warned the Special Committee on Covid-19 about the positive Covid-19 cases at IDCC and PPV ventilation.
“(Some) 45 percent of IDCC staff (had) tested positive. It should be considered a cluster and managed accordingly. It is a warning sign to (the Special Committee on Covid-19) to ensure (the) safety of PPVs.
“(They) also need to seriously pay attention on ventilation to minimise the threat of aerosol transmission at PPVs,” she said.
Yeo had urged for the implementation of PPV ventilation guides, which was announced by the Human Resources Ministry today but had yet to be put into force.
Meanwhile, Johor DAP leader Liew Chin Tong had spoken out on long-term measures that needed to be implemented to prevent similar incidents from happening in the future.
He urged the government to adopt drive-thru PPVs to minimise contact between PPV staff and vaccine recipients or to use community facilities such as private clinics, community halls and nearby schools to prevent crowds and people travelling far.
Liew stressed on PPV staff being tested with RTK-antigen test or home-test kits and to ensure that staff and vaccine recipients adhere to SOP.
Khairy said the 204 infected did not have any serious symptoms and had a “low viral load” which could be because 400 out of 453 staff members stationed at IDCC PPV were vaccinated.
It was reported that there would be staff change and that it would be safe for people to turn up and get vaccinated at IDCC from tomorrow.
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