THE latest Covid-19 cluster at a construction site in Kuala Lumpur was detected after compulsory screening was done before the project was allowed to resume, said Defence Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob.

He said the Construction Industry Development Board (CIDB) announced that the Covid-19 infection has spread to the construction site after test results came back.

“This cluster was identified because the contractor complied with the guidelines, which is to perform Covid-19 screening on its employees before they were allowed to resume operations.

“After the tests came back positive for Covid-19, the 44 employees were sent to Sg Buloh Hospital for treatment.

“Workers who have close contacts with the patient have also been quarantined,” he said at the ministry’s daily press conference in Putrajaya today. 

The Health Ministry yesterday announced the capital’s latest construction site cluster.

Health Director-General Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah had said there was a big possibility that the cramped and confined space could have contributed to the spread among the workers.

Previously, a cluster was detected at a construction site on Jalan Ampang, in Kuala Lumpur.

Another cluster was also found at a Setia Alam construction site in Shah Alam earlier this month.

Malaysia yesterday saw a spike of 172 new cases. Of this, 156 were foreign nationals and 112 were in detention at either Bukit Jalil, Semenyih or Sepang immigration detention centres.

Almost all the cases were in Kuala Lumpur and Selangor.

Ismail Sabri said CIDB will continue inspecting construction sites to ensure guidelines are complied with throughout the conditional movement control order period. 

“To-date, 5,236 construction sites have been inspected. Of those, 728 construction sites were found to be compliant and 209 sites were not. Those non-compliant ones have been warned.

“A total of seven construction sites are shut down and 4,292 construction sites are not operational.

 “A total of 27,383 on-site workers have been screened for Covid-19.” – May 26, 2020.