Glove maker WRP Asia found 838 Covid-19 cases among 2,838 workers

 

Mass testing of 2,838 workers at glove maker WRP Asia Pacific Sdn Bhd's factory in Sepang last weekend had revealed 838 positive Covid-19 cases, its management confirmed today.

In a statement to Malaysiakini, WRP Asia said two workers had initially tested positive, followed by 13 others last Friday, June 4.

"The said workers were asymptomatic. Immediately, we initiated the testing process for all close contacts," the company said.

"Over the weekend, more cases were discovered. We made the decision to do a plant-wide shutdown from Monday, June 7 onwards, in order for us to carry out plant-wide mass testing.

"Pursuant to the mass testing, we discovered that 838 of our 2838 workers tested positive. Again, most of the cases are asymptomatic," it further said.

As of today, WRP Asia said its operations have yet to resume, while steps have been taken to quarantine all infected workers and segregating their close contacts.

In accordance with regulatory requirements, the company said workers who have been tested negative are in the process of being moved to an approved third-party facility.

"For our foreign workers on site, we continue to practise SOPs, and are offering catered food and meal subsidies.

"Our management is in engagement with the regulators, and we are most grateful that the health ministry will be sending their doctors to our facility to monitor the progress of our infected workers on a regular basis," it said.

WRP Asia was responding to Malaysiakini's queries based on sources' information on the Covid-19 outbreak at its premise.

Their statement, however, did not address claims of inadequate social distancing measures at the workplace, as seen in a 21-second video said to be recorded by a worker.

Prior to the start of the current lockdown, Health Ministry director-general Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah said 115 workplace clusters with 5,392 cases were recorded between May 12 and 26, of which half of the clusters involved factories.

The government today announced that the movement control order 3.0 which started on June 4 has been extended up to June 28, amid criticisms that the bulk of cases were contributed by manufacturers recognised as essential services and given permission to operate. - Mkini