By Xavier Kong
HEALTH director-general Datuk Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah said today new procedures are in place to deter the possible spread of Covid-19 among detainees at immigration detention depots, following the recent outbreaks in four such depots.
According to him, the procedures will require all new detainees to be tested, while those who will be transferred to other depots will be tested beforehand.
Those being deported will be tested as well, along with all staff members working at the depots. Random sampling will also be conducted as a risk evaluation of the situation.
“These detention depots have been identified as being at high risk of infection, following the discovery of the virus among the detainees,” said Dr Noor Hisham in a statement.
Fourteen new cases were confirmed today, bringing the total number of cases to 8,529. Of the 14, three are imported, seven are non-Malaysians locally infected, and four are locally infected Malaysians.
Also, there were 127 more recoveries today, bringing the total number of discharged patients to 8,000. The active transmission cases stand at 408, of whom four are in intensive care, and none require ventilator support.
No deaths were also reported, maintaining the death toll at 121. – June 18, 2020
