THE Sri Petaling tabligh gathering has sprouted a new Covid-19 sub-cluster in Rembau that yielded 27 infections, said Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah

The director-general of health said the cluster involved school staff that then spread it to several localities – Pedas, Pailin, Kundera and Batu Hampar – in the Rembau district.

“This cluster was detected after several teachers tested positive. The infections are believed to have started following a meeting at the school that was attended by the index case, patient No. 448, who attended the Sri Petaling gathering,” said Dr Noor Hisham in his daily press briefing in Putrajaya today.

The tabligh event at Masjid Jamek Sri Petaling was held from February 27 to March 1.

The Health Ministry estimates that some 14,500 Malaysians and 1,500 foreigners attended the event, in which participants camped in tents and shared meals on platters.

He said the infected teachers and staff went on to pass the virus to family members and other villagers until there were three generations of infections.

“Our investigations showed that relatives had visited one another when they were sick, although the country was under the movement control order (MCO),” said Noor Hisham.

He said the ministry hoped Malaysians will follow advisories from the government to refrain from unnecessary movements, such as social visits during this period. 

“There are still people visiting one another when their relatives are under home or self-surveillance.

“For death No. 64, the person and several others were found to have gone out of their areas to two different states during the MCO period. 

“We find that road traffic has also increased and we hope people will follow the MCO,” said Noor Hisham. – April 8, 2020.