THE Health Ministry has identified a new Covid-19 cluster at the Immigration Department depot in Bukit Jalil, where 35 foreigners have tested positive for the virus.

Director-General of Health Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah said 645 individuals at the facility have been screened since yesterday.

“There are 400 negative cases, while 210 people are still waiting for their results.

“Those infected are 17 Myanmar nationals, 15 Indians, one Sri Lankan, one Bangladeshi and one Egyptian,” he told the ministry’s daily press conference on Covid-19 in Putrajaya today.

He said the ministry is investigating the cluster.

Dr Noor Hisham said the 35 who tested positive were among the illegals rounded up before the movement-control order (MCO) took effect on March 18, thus, they were not screened upon their detention.

“We were told that those who were isolated earlier are not allowed to mix with patients who came in later.

“We need to investigate this. Perhaps, it came from the workforce (at the depot), or from the kitchen. We are not sure.

“We need to investigate in detail before making any comments.”

Since the MCO came into force, he said, all those held at the depot have been screened for the virus.

“We have isolated the positive cases and started contact-tracing.”

He said the ministry will continue working with the Immigration Department, police and other agencies on case management at the depot.  – May 21, 2020.