New Covid-19 clusters resulted from social events flouting SOPs, Health Ministry warns public

Health Director-General Tan Sri Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah speaks during a press conference in Putrajaya on November 4, 2020. — Picture by Shafwan Zaidon
Health Director-General Tan Sri Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah speaks during a press conference in Putrajaya on November 4, 2020. — Picture by Shafwan Zaidon

KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 28 — The Ministry of Health (MOH) has warned the public today to follow standard operating procedures (SOP) while attending social events, amid still rising Covid-19 cases in the country.

Its director-general Tan Sri Dr Noor Hisham wrote in a statement explaining that several new Covid-19 clusters have emerged from social events that did not adhere to the restrictions mandated by Putrajaya.

“Recently, it has been found that more clusters are formed from social gatherings that do not follow the SOP. This includes large gatherings involving families, celebrations and religious ceremonies.

“According to the investigation report received, these events were also attended by symptomatic individuals,” he wrote in a statement today.

In clusters such as Enggor in Perak and Indah Mas in Kuala Lumpur, the positive cases originated from a family gathering and spread throughout the community.

He added that the Inai and Jambul clusters in Sabah also originated from reception events.

He also said that the Mentari cluster that involves areas in Selangor, Negri Sembilan and Kuala Lumpur originated from a funeral.

“Social distancing is difficult to practise in crowded and narrow areas, but taking lessons from the occurrence of these clusters, the community is advised to abide by and obey the advice given.

“This is to reduce the risk of infection in the community,” he added in a statement.

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