160 found Covid-19 positive after checking into Seri Kembangan hotel

 

Over 160 migrant workers of a manufacturing factory were found infected with Covid-19 after checking into a budget hotel in Seri Kembangan, Selangor, for quarantine since last Friday, according to Country Heights Holdings Bhd founder Lee Kim Yew (above).

Out of 200 migrant workers who were ferried by the manufacturer from a Covid-19 red zone in Klang, 31 were found positive for Covid-19 on Nov 14, one day after they checked into the hotel, the business tycoon said.

Another 132 were tested positive for the coronavirus today, he told Malaysiakini.

An image provided by Lee showed Health Ministry officials at the hotel where they had cordoned off a part of the area this morning. The hotel is located near The Mines shopping mall, which was developed by Lee himself.

Lee initially saw no issue with the factory sending their staff to the hotel which is owned and operated by the manufacturer itself for quarantine purposes.

However, he raised concern over the welfare of the migrant workers and the safety of the surrounding community.

"The staff were tested positive last Saturday but they were only sent off on Sunday night. As of this afternoon, the building is still not sealed and the convenience store, which is located downstairs of the hotel, is still operating.

"I am concerned about the safety of the public and residents as the migrant workers were seen buying stuff at the convenience store," Lee said.

He added: "There were poor precautionary measures being carried to protect the migrant workers, as the majority of them have been infected.

”This is very serious and the virus is highly contagious. It was not right for the manufacturer to send their infected staff here. You simply cannot transfer your staff from a red zone (to a green zone) knowing they have been infected."

When contacted by Malaysiakini, a factory spokesperson explained that the hotel was being used as the quarantine centre for patients under investigation (PUI) for the factory.

"We wish to clarify that all Covid-19 positive cases are sent to government hospitals, while PUIs are sent to quarantine centres as per the guidelines issued by the Ministry of Health," said the spokesperson.

Asked to verify Lee's allegation that 160 workers were infected, the spokesperson stressed that those found positive of coronavirus were sent for treatment.  - Mkini