THE Health Ministry needs to set up a Covid-19 response team for Klang, where there are currently more than 4,000 active cases, the constituency’s MP Charles Santiago said.

The team should be tasked with providing up-to-date information on Covid-19 cases in the area, and would help stem anxiety and fear among Klang residents.

He said the team could involve the ministry at federal level, as well as state officials, health-based civil societies and professional bodies such as the Malaysian Medical Association (MMA), Malaysian Public Health Physicians’ Association, Majlis Perbandaran Klang (MPK) and the Klang business community.

“It’s incredibly difficult to keep issues hushed up. More so when people are frantic about the rising numbers of Covid-19 cases.

“Even before it was reported in the media, there were rumours about a breakout of cases in the Klang Tengku Ampuan Rahimah hospital.

“There is a need to manage information effectively to create confidence amongst local communities and businesses,” said Santiago.

The team could be tasked with monitoring, creating awareness, providing daily reports and mobilising local communities and factories in the area.

“In addition, the response team could bring on board private sector doctors and medical facilities to complement the public sector in its efforts.”

Malaysiakini recently reported that close to 100 staff and in-patients of Hospital Tengku Ampuan Rahimah (HTAR) in Klang, Selangor, tested positive for Covid-19.

The news was not revealed by the health authorities but was the result of media investigations, which found from sources that patients had been admitted for health issues unrelated to Covid-19 and tested negative during admission, only to develop symptoms during their stay.

Santiago said daily updates on the true situation in Klang must be given to people in the Klang and Kapar districts as this will help counter any fake news or misinformation.

“It will also give the locals a sense of security and confidence to socialise outside their house including frequenting local business.

“The Klang infections largely involve migrant workers in factories, followed by local community transmissions and most recently, infections in the Klang general hospital.

“Klang health officials indicate that the infections among migrant workers is about 78% and locals 22%,” he added.

In the last 14 days, Klang and Kapar areas recorded 3,724 infections plus 10 deaths.

Currently, there are 4,318 active cases in Klang while the total is at 11,378. 

Yesterday, six more Covid-19 cases involving patients and health workers at HTAR and Serdang Hospital were detected.

Selangor Health director Dr Sha’ari Ngadiman said HTAR recorded four cases involving two health personnel and two patients, while there were two cases among health workers at the Serdang Hospital.

Last Friday, director-general of health Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah said there were 72 HTAR employees under Covid-19 observation and surveillance orders while the Serdang Hospital outbreak involved 29 medical personnel and 28 patients. – December 21, 2020.