TEN Covid-19 infections have been detected at the Kuala Lumpur wholesale market in Selayang despite 50% of the workers having received both doses of the vaccine, said vendors.

They are now worried that the infections will spread causing the market to be shut down again, for the fourth time since the start of the pandemic last year.

The market reported outbreaks in April last year, in mid-January this year and a third outbreak was reported in June.

The last outbreak saw more that 400 people from the seafood section of the market test positive, with eight later dying of the virus.

This latest outbreak has vendors on their knees as their already poor business has once again taken a direct hit. Fewer customers are visiting the market, while hawkers, who usually get their supplies at the market, are also staying away.

Kuala Lumpur Vegetable Wholesalers Association president Wong Keng Fatt said the latest outbreak began on July 18 when a vegetable vendor developed Covid-19-like symptoms after returning home from vaccination.

He subsequently tested positive for the virus, so did his wife and children.

“After that, other vegetable vendors and employees near his stall went for screening and 10 tested positive. We still don’t know the source of the virus,” Wong told The Malaysian Insight.

Wong said 50% of the vegetable vendors are vaccinated, while the remaining 50%, about 1,000 people, are scheduled to receive their second dose next week.

He said it did not occur to him to get tested before being vaccinated, adding that among those who tested positive, some have received both jabs.

Wong said the Health Ministry and Kuala Lumpur City Hall have been informed, and they are waiting for more test results to be released before deciding what to do next.

“Employees from stalls with positive cases and their neighbouring stalls have been asked to isolate. We have asked all vendors to be truthful and not hide their symptoms.”

Meanwhile, Kuala Lumpur Fruits Wholesalers Association president Chin Nyuk Moy said among fruit vendors, two employees have tested positive.

“At least 200 people from 80% of the fruit vendors are vaccinated. The remaining 20%, fewer than 100 people have not, because they were previously diagnosed with Covid and have to wait.”

After the outbreak, wholesalers have lost a considerable number of customers who are now reluctant to visit the market.

“Our business has dropped by 80% and not many customers are willing to come in. We now deliver to our customers once they place the order.

“Since the first outbreak in the markets, vendors and employees have been screened three to four times. We thought the outbreak would stop once everyone was vaccinated. Now that the virus is airborne, we are afraid to open for business.

There are 448 stalls at the market, of which 168 are seafood vendors, 216 vegetable vendors and 64 fruit stalls. The market employs around 4,000 people.

Kuala Lumpur Wholesale Market supplies seafood, vegetables and fruit to smaller markets and most restaurants in the Klang Valley.

Two fishmongers positive

Sing Kian Hock, president of the KL How Seng Fish Wholesaler Association, said 70% of its members had completed the second dose of the vaccine. The remaining 30% will receive their second dose on August 8.

The 168 seafood stalls employ 900 workers. After workers at the vegetable section of the market tested positive, employees at the seafood section also went to get themselves tested.

It was found that two of them tested positive for Covid-19.

Sing suspects that the source of the virus did not originate in the market but rather from other markets in Seremban, Kajang and Sri Petaling where there have been confirmed cases.

The association has also asked all vendors and employees to be truthful and not conceal their symptoms to prevent another outbreak.

Sing said the outbreaks at the market coupled with the lockdown on June 1 has caused business volume at the market to deteriorate by 20%.

“The number of customers who visit the market has dropped. This is mainly because dine-ins are not allowed, so restaurant owners buy fewer goods. Night markets are also not allowed to operate, so it affects our business.”

Wong echoed the same sentiment as Sing, saying that it was difficult to do business at the market these days as dine-ins are still not allowed.

He said there has been a reduction of 30% in his customer base who are hawkers, adding his customers are also avoiding the market for fear of contracting the virus.

“We hope that the vendors and employees will complete both doses soon so that the food supply chain is not disrupted.

“We tell everyone to be vigilant and after more than a year, everyone knows to comply with the standard operating procedure.” – July 24, 2021.