THE increasing number of Covid-19 cases among foreign workers is a new challenge, and stigmatising the group is of no help, said Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah.

“We need to help them and reduce the spread of the virus,” the director-general of health told a daily press conference in Putrajaya today.

“We need to identify ways to address the issue of Covid-19 transmissions among them.”

He said foreign workers have contributed greatly to Malaysia’s economy, and should not be vilified.

There has been a spike in Covid-19 infections among these workers as well as detained undocumented migrants, in recent weeks.

To date, the ministry has screened 35,811 foreigners, with 2,014 testing positive.

Noor Hisham said the government machinery, civil society groups and the public must come together to address the issue.

He said it became evident on April 29 that the rise in virus cases was due to imported cases and infections among foreigners in the immigration detention centres and foreign workers in the various sectors.

He said issue of housing for foreign workers must be addressed at once to curb the spread of the disease.

“Foreign workers, especially in the construction industry, in the red zones, must be screened and employers who are in yellow and green zones should screen their workers.

“Embassies and civil society groups should work together to communicate with the foreign workers that they understand the guidelines and standard operating procedures that they must follow.”

Noor Hisham said that employers are responsible for educating their workers on hygiene to prevent the spread of Covid-19.

“Employers should ensure their workers follow all the SOPs.” – June 1, 2020.