By Nasuha Badrul Huzaini
SHAH ALAM, Aug 26 — A total of 53,571 cases, or 17.1 per cent, out of the 313,075 cumulative Covid-19 positives recorded in Selangor from July were detected at workplaces, says Dato’ Seri Amirudin Shari.
The Menteri Besar said out of the total figure, most of the cases had come from workers from the manufacturing sector with 33,214 workers or 62 per cent.
“This was followed by the services sector with 7,768 infections, or 14.5 per cent, construction sector (7,232 or 13.5 per cent) and trading sector (5,357 or 10 per cent).
“The cases were identified from screening tests conducted at their respective workplaces arranged by the employers as a precautionary measure before entering the premises.
“The positive cases were also detected from close contact screenings and testings done by the workers at private healthcare facilities,” he said when answering a question from Sijangkang state assemblyman Datuk Dr Ahmad Yunus Hairi during the Selangor State Legislative Assembly today.
Amirudin said that the state government, through the local councils, had inspected the factories in Selangor with other agencies, namely the Health Ministry (MOH), the Ministry of Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs (KPDNHEP) and the Ministry of Trade and Industry (Miti).
“Some 2,457 premises in Selangor were checked, and 455 compounds were issued to the premise owners. While 237 premises were ordered to close by MOH and Miti under Section 18 (1)(f) of the Prevention and Control of Infectious Diseases Act 1988,” he said.
The clause could enforce the closure of premises should it be likely to lead to the outbreak or spread any infectious disease.
Meanwhile, Amirudin also said that the state government had launched the Preventing and Detecting Outbreaks at Ignition Sites (POIS), a voluntary programme to curb the outbreak of the Covid-19 virus at workplaces.
“Some 1,500 factories have participated in the initiative, which requires factories to implement several measures to ensure a safer workplace.
“This includes conducting periodic health screenings and sanitation exercise,” he said when answering a supplementary question by Dr Ahmad Yunus on the state’s plans to enable factories to continue operations.
