Perak Health Dept: College Covid outbreak under control

 

The Perak Health Department has concurred with Deputy Health Ministry Dr Noor Azmi Ghazali that a Covid-19 outbreak in a Gopeng college was under control.

Noor Azmi (above) drew flak for stating on Monday (Feb 21) that infection at the Perak Matriculation College was under control and that there were no cases the day before (Feb 20).

State health department director Dr Ding Lay Ming outlined efforts by the Kampar district health office and district disaster management committee to reduce the outbreak.

The Covid case there was detected on Feb 7, two days after a student returned from the Chinese New Year holidays.

"Through contact tracing, as of Feb 21, a total of 394 cases (13.2 percent out of 2,979 students) were detected among the students of the college," she said in a statement on Feb 22.

Ding said those infected were isolated at the college residence in a separate location.

A total of 311 or 10.4 percent of students who were identified as close contacts of the Covid-19 cases were placed at three separate residential blocks, she added.

"Reports received show that students have received two doses of Covid-19 vaccines and 12 percent received their booster shots.

"All positive cases reported so far are in Category 1 and 2, in which patients only display mild symptoms," she said.

Outbreak management

Various engagement sessions were also conducted between the health office, disaster management committee, and college management, Ding said.

This was to assist with the control of Covid cases and student segregation.

"Risk and Situational Analysis (RSA) activities were conducted thrice throughout the outbreak cluster to assess the situation, making sure activities carried out by the college management comply with the SOPs.

"With Covid-19 cases involving only Categories 1 and 2, full vaccination of all students, the trend of reducing positive case infections and increasing the number of cured cases, management responses by enhancing capacity as well as control measures, the outbreak at the college was found to be under control," she said.

She, however, said risk assessment activities will continue to be implemented from time to time for the purpose of optimal outbreak control.

Minister catches flak

Internet users and college students previously took to social media to slam Noor Azmi's remarks.

They claimed the deputy health minister was issuing a false statement as more students at the college were found to be infected.

"This is wrong. I was found positive with Covid-19 together with seven others yesterday," commented an internet user who responded to a post by Bernama TV on Feb 21.

"Lies. Two of my friends were found positive yesterday. How can (you) say no case at all?

"My friends said many were infected (on Feb 20)," said another internet user, refuting Noor Azmi who said no cases were detected on that day. - Mkini