More Covid-19 infections detected on factory floors

KUALA LUMPUR (Dec 22): More companies have reported Covid-19 infections at their workplaces after conducting screen tests on their employees.  

They include consumer electronics player Panasonic Manufacturing Malaysia Bhd, condom manufacturer Karex Bhd, and electronics manufacturing service provider ATA IMS Bhd.

Panasonic said 116 employees at both of its manufacturing facilities in Shah Alam had tested positive for Covid-19 in a recent screening.

The company has completed full screening on 2,137 workers, and 116 or 5% of them were found to be affected.

The Petaling district health office advised Panasonic to cease operations until further notice. The company then decided to close its facilities from yesterday to Wednesday to allow disinfection specialists to carry out their work.

Meanwhile, Karex said 35 of its employees have tested positive for Covid-19, out of 2,000 who had been screened for the virus.

In a filing with Bursa Malaysia, the condom manufacturer said 28 cases were discovered from screening conducted at its catheter facility located in Pontian, Johor on Dec 16.

The remaining seven, it said, were isolated cases found in its two other condom factories.

“We wish to inform that, to date, we have completed routine screening of over 2,000 of our employees and have discovered a total of 35 positive cases,” said the group.

Karex said the affected catheter facility is closed temporarily for disinfection and sanitization processes and is expected to resume operations in stages beginning Dec 25.

ATA IMS Bhd said two employees of its subsidiary have tested positive for Covid-19 and are now undergoing treatment at government hospitals.

The group said ATA Components Sdn Bhd (ATC), which manufactures wire harness, contributes less than 1% of the group’s revenue.

ATC’s operations are separate from ATA IMS’s other business premises, the group said in a filing with Bursa Malaysia.

ATC has temporarily stopped operations from Dec 16 for sanitization of the premises and PCR testing of immediate close contacts and technical staff, while the rest of the workers were quarantined.

In accordance with the Ministry of Health’s instruction, ATC will be closed from Dec 18 to 24 for cleaning and disinfection, and all workers will undergo Covid-19 testing.

Last week, Covid-19 cases among employees were reported by glove manufacturers Kossan Rubber Industry Bhd (427 cases), Hartalega Holdings Bhd (35 cases) and VS Industry Bhd (one case).

Kossan said on Dec 16 that 427 workers had tested positive for Covid-19 at its Klang factory. They make up 6% of its total workforce of 7,004

Prior to this, Hartalega had on Dec 14 reported that 35 of its workers at its facility at Bestari Jaya and manufacturing complex in Sepang tested positive for the virus, representing 0.4% of its total 8,772 employees.

Top Glove Corp Bhd has to date reported the most Covid-19 cases among its employees.

The company revealed previously that 8,868 factory employees have undergone Covid-19 tests. Of this number, 5,147 workers or 58% among them tested positive, while 3,721 workers or 42% tested negative as at Dec 8.

The outbreak has resulted in Top Glove’s Klang factories ceasing operations for four weeks, starting on Nov 17.

Get the latest news @ www.EdgeProp.my

Subscribe to our Telegram channel for the latest stories and updates 

Click here for more property stories