THE enhanced movement-control order (EMCO) at Top Glove workers’ hostel in Klang has been extended to December 14, said Senior Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob.

He said there were still many new Covid-19 cases among the workers, both local and foreign.

“Initially, the EMCO at the hostel was from November 17 to 30. So far, 5,805 people have been screened and 3,406 have tested positive.

“The numbers are still high and there are new cases coming from second screening.

“Therefore, we agreed to extend the EMCO until December 14,” said Ismail Sabri.

Top Glove factories and workers’ quarters in Klang are at the centre of the Teratai cluster, which has surpassed the Sri Petaling Tabligh cluster in the number of cases.

Ismail Sabri said all workers can take Covid-19 tests at any private clinic monitored by the district health office.

Non-Malaysians who test positive will be sent to a quarantine centre and Covid-19 low-risk treatment facility, while Malaysians will be sent to a hospital.

Among those who test negative, non-Malaysians will be placed at low-risk Covid-19 and quarantine centres set up at the factory hostels, while Malaysians can self-quarantine at home.

Those who test negative still cannot return to work as the factories remain closed for screening of all employees.

All costs, such as for Covid-19 tests, provision and management of the facilities, food and drink, employee accommodation and transportation to and from the facilities for workers, will be borne by the employer, Ismail Sabri added.

The Teratai cluster was detected on November 2 when a batch of foreign workers were screened before departure to their home countries. The discovery of 10 cases led to contact tracing.

Top Glove executive chairman Lim Wee Chai has said some 7,000 of the company’s 13,000 workforce, both local and migrant, have been screened for the virus.

He said about 3,000 of them had tested positive. – November 30, 2020.