SIME Darby Property has closed its headquarters in Petaling Jaya for disinfection after an employee tested positive for Covid-19.

“We regret to inform you that one of our employees based at the headquarters tested positive for Covid-19 on October 6, and is currently receiving treatment at a government hospital,” the group said in a statement today.

It added the headquarters will be closed until further notice.

“All employees based at the headquarters are requested to work from home effective immediately, until further notice.”

To reduce the risk of infection, Sime Darby said contact tracing will be conducted on close contacts of the affected individual.

“Those who have been in close contact will be notified immediately and are required to immediately self-quarantine for 14 days.

“Employees across the group who have visited Level 3 (of the) Sime Darby Property headquarters since September 28 are required to self-quarantine for a period of 14 days,” Sime Darby said.

The conglomerate said the screening test costs for its staff will be borne by the company’s insurance provider.

“Employees will be allowed to collect their belongings from the headquarters post-disinfection process – communication of which will be made once the process is completed.”

A total of 691 new Covid-19 infections were recorded yesterday, with four deaths.

Of the new cases, 688 are local transmissions, with the bulk – at 397 – from Kedah, and 219 from Sabah.

The new cases put the country’s tally of cumulative cases at 13,504, with active cases at 2,936. Of these, 31 patients are in intensive care, with eight requiring intubation.

Of the four deaths, three were in Sabah and one was in Penang, putting the country’s death toll from the coronavirus at 141.

One of the deaths was of a year-old Malaysian girl, the country’s youngest Covid-19 victim. The three other deaths were of two patients aged 60, and an 85-year-old. – October 7, 2020.