MP urges gov't to mass test migrant workers, low-cost flats residents

CORONAVIRUS | Klang MP Charles Santiago has urged the government to embark on mass Covid-19 testing on both migrant workers and residents of low-cost housing where "social distancing is a luxury".

"And the testing should be free," he added in a tweet.

Charles (above) was responding to today's Health Ministry update which reported a new cluster of Covid-19 infections among construction workers in Setia Alam. So far there have been 12 positive cases from that cluster.

This is the third Covid-19 cluster reported this week among blue-collar migrant workers. The other two are among workers in Pedas (81 infected migrants), Negeri Sembilan and also among security guards in Cheras (11 cases).

A previous cluster of migrant construction workers in Jalan Ampang had also been reported previously, with 30 cases reported thus far.

Health Ministry director-general Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah had said previously that infections spread faster among migrant workers due to cramped living conditions.

For the workers in Setia Alam, the infections were first detected among three workers who shared an apartment with 18 others.

Health care experts and social activists have lamented previously that low-cost housing proved a great challenge for social distancing due to the limited living space in the units.

At present, the Health Ministry's approach to mass testing is targeted, based on localities where infections are found.

Keep up with the latest information on the outbreak in the country with Malaysiakini's free Covid-19 tracker.

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