Covid-19: Teratai cluster linked to Top Glove workers has positive rate of 43.8%, 1,067 new confirmed cases today

KUALA LUMPUR (Nov 23): The Teratai cluster, which is linked to the world's largest glove manufacturer Top Glove Corp Bhd, recorded 1,067 new confirmed Covid-19 cases today, pushing the tally of infections in the cluster to 2,524.

Health director-general Tan Sri Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah revealed that the cluster has a positive rate of 43.8%, representing 2,524 of total cases detected in the cluster.

Based on data prepared by the Ministry of Health (MOH), the latest tally of active cases in the cluster — meaning patients who carry high transmission risks and have to be admitted to hospitals and quarantined — stood at 2,359.

To date, some 5,767 individuals have been screened, with 1,330 testing negative for the virus while the remaining 1,913 individuals are awaiting their results, according to Dr Noor Hisham.

"All cases linked to this cluster involve 164 Malaysians and 2,360 foreigners aged between two and 68 years.

"Most of the cases from this cluster are the factory workers in Meru, located in Klang. All positive cases were hospitalised and their close contacts were quarantined to prevent the spread of infections," said Dr Noor Hisham at a media briefing today.

He said the Top Glove factory management has taken a few initiatives to isolate its workers who have been identified as close contacts in certain quarantine places.

So far, no cases in the Teratai cluster require treatment in intensive care units, along with no deaths reported, noted Dr Noor Hisham.

Dr Noor Hisham said he welcomed the decision of the government earlier to close Top Glove's 28 factories in stages, as announced by Senior Minister (Security) Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob today.

"This allows screening to be carried out thoroughly. The public health teams will be mobilised to the affected areas to assist in all control and prevention activities," he said.

Top Glove workers' dormitories in Klang are currently under the enforcement of enhanced movement control order (EMCO) until Nov 30.

"The total population involved in the EMCO area is about 5,900 people. However, information obtained from the factory management found that the total number of employees is about 13,000 people, working in 28 different factory buildings.

"The Klang District Health Office is working with the factory management to plan screening of all these workers," added Dr Noor Hisham.

Malaysia's new Covid-19 cases hit a new record high of 1,884 cases, seeing Selangor as the biggest contributor with 1,203 cases.

Most of the cases in Selangor were contributed by the Teratai cluster, followed by the Damanlela cluster in Kuala Lumpur which recorded 105 cases. These two clusters are linked to the workplace.

Malaysia's current total cases swelled to 56,650.

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