KUALA LUMPUR (Dec 2): The Teratai cluster, which originated from the Top Glove Corp Bhd's worker dormitories, in Meru, Klang reported 27 new cases today

However, Health director-general Tan Sri Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah warned of the risk of community infection related to the Teratai cluster as positive cases were detected outside the Enhanced Movement Control Order (EMCO) area.

Dr Noor Hisham revealed today that the second generation of infections in the Teratai cluster have spread to the community.  

According to him, there are about 159 positive cases detected in the cluster who are Malaysians and live outside of the EMCO area.

“We are still conducting screening in Meru, by using RTK-Antigen and we hope that we can curb the spread of Covid-19 infections among the community,” he said.

“As of today, around 150 Covid-19 positive cases linked to the Teratai cluster have been reported outside of the EMCO area,” Dr Noor Hisham told the media briefing today.

He explained that these infections are among Malaysian workers in Top Glove factories who live outside of the EMCO areas. “When they [Malaysian workers] are infected, they will infect other family members when they return home,” Dr Noor Hisham said.

About 6,609 individuals have been screened in the EMCO area where Top Glove’s worker dormitories are, with 5,083 total infections of Covid-19 detected so far, according to the Health DG.

Meanwhile, a total of 3,569 patients have recovered from the virus, bringing the number of active cases — those who carry high transmission risks — down to 1,514 in the Teratai Cluster from 2,266 reported on Tuesday.

To date, no deaths have been reported.

The Ministry has identified 11,215 Top Glove workers, involving foreign and Malaysian workers for Covid-19 screenings.

On Monday, the Government announced an extension of EMCO at Top Glove’s worker dormitories for 14 days until Dec 14.

Senior Minister (Security) Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob said the decision to extend the EMCO was made due to the persistent high rate of positive Covid-19 cases among the workers there.

Yesterday, the Ministry of Human Resources (MoHR) said it had opened 19 investigation papers against six companies related to Top Glove Corp under the Workers’ Minimum Standards of Housing and Amenities Act 1990 (Act 446) following enforcement operations in five States — Perak, Kedah, Kelantan, Negeri Sembilan and Johor — amid the spread of Covid-19 infections in the Teratai Cluster.

Meanwhile, Top Glove said in a statement yesterday the company will be extending its fullest cooperation to the relevant authorities on the matter.

The world’s largest rubber glove maker stressed that the efforts to source for more accommodation and to improve existing worker accommodations are still ongoing due to the large number of workers over there.

Furthermore, Top Glove said it expects to complete the exercise of improving workers’ accommodation by the end of this month.

Malaysia reported 851 new Covid-19 cases today, lifting the nationwide tally of infections to 68,020.

The Klang Valley, comprising Selangor, Kuala Lumpur and Putrajaya, reported 334 cases, representing 39.2% of today's new cases.

Of this total, Dr Noor Hisham said Selangor contributed 249 cases, while Kuala Lumpur recorded 85 cases.

Sabah, the second-worst-hit state, logged 229 cases, while Johor has 102 cases, said Dr Noor Hisham.