5,084 tabligh attendees yet to be tested for Covid-19, says health D-G


Noel Achariam

More than half of the country’s Covid-19 cases have been traced to infections by those who attended a tabligh event at Sri Petaling Mosque in Kuala Lumpur from February 27 to March 1. – The Malaysian Insight pic by Hasnoor Hussain, March 28, 2020.

THE Health Ministry is still looking for 5,084 attendees of a tabligh event late last month to test them for Covid-19.

Director-General of Health Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah said the ministry is working closely with police to identify these individuals.

“They are around the country. We have their addresses in every state, and we will try to find them.

“We want to encourage them to come to clinics to get tested,” he said in his daily press conference in Putrajaya today.

The gathering at Sri Petaling Mosque in Kuala Lumpur was held from February 27 to March 1.

The ministry estimates that some 14,500 Malaysians and 1,500 foreigners attended the event, where participants camped in tents and ate from shared plates.

More than half of the country’s coronavirus cases have been traced to infections by those who attended the tabligh programme.

As of today, said Dr Noor Hisham, the ministry has screened 17,584 attendees and taken samples from 12,500.

“Positive cases amounted to 1,207, while 6,648 tested negative.

“There are 4,645 pending test results.”

A spike in cases led to Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin announcing a two-week movement-control order starting March 18.

Earlier this week, he extended the directive to April 14. – March 28, 2020.


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Comments


  • So Defence Minister and PDRM were bluffing all this while....about knowing whereabouts of these people

    Posted 4 years ago by Julian Nagelsmann · Reply

  • Since the authorities already have the addresses of these irresponsible people who still do not voluntarily go to the clinics to get tested, what would do you think would "encouraged" them to go anytime soon? Please send PDRM to locate them ASAP and bring them in using force if necessary. They are already causing a lot of hurt and injury to others, and death to the innocents :(

    Posted 4 years ago by Michael Chong · Reply