Page 135 - MALAYSIA HEALTH SECTOR RESPONSE TO COVID-19 PANDEMIC: PERSPECTIVES FROM THE FIELD

6.1 The Emergence of Workplace Clusters

As of 9th July 2020, there were only 15 clusters reported to be related to
workplace which later leapt by nearly 8-fold to 119 clusters on 24th
8,
9
November 2020 . The leap in COVID-19 cases during the third wave of the
COVID-19 pandemic in Malaysia had been attributed to workplace clusters,
10
especially in the Klang Valley . Klang Valley had persistently been reporting
three or four-digit cases daily since November 2020.

Klang Valley is the main economic hub in Malaysia, booming with diverse
industries such as manufacturing, construction, financial, tourism and
retail. The blooming economic activities in Klang Valley since decades ago
have created higher labour demand, therefore offering better occupation
opportunities attracting both fellow Malaysians from other states and
foreign workers from other countries striving for a better life. This has
consequently led to a high population density in the Klang Valley, making
its population more vulnerable to the spread of communicable diseases such
as COVID-19 . Hence, when COVID-19 swamped again during the third wave,
11
the COVID-19 transmission spread like wildfire, especially at workplaces.
After removing the restriction on inter-district travelling and on the number
of passengers allowed per vehicle, the increased movement of the public
11
had accelerated the transmission of COVID-19 in Klang Valley .
Besides, the upward trend of COVID-19 cases related to workplace clusters
Besides, the upward trend of COVID-19 cases related to workplace clusters
was mainly attributed to COVID-19 transmission among foreign workers in
was mainly attributed to COVID-19 transmission among foreign workers in
construction sites, shopping malls, and factories. A few major workplace
construction sites, shopping malls, and factories. A few major workplace
clusters involving foreign workers had contributed to the steady rise in the
clusters involving foreign workers had contributed to the steady rise in the
COVID-19 cases in the Klang Valley in recent months, such as the Utama
COVID-19 cases in the Klang Valley in recent months, such as the Utama
Cluster and the Teratai Cluster. Nevertheless, another possible justification
Cluster and the Teratai Cluster. Nevertheless, another possible justification
for the spike in COVID-19 cases in the Klang Valley could be attributed
for the spike in covid-19 cases in the Klang Valley could be attributed to the
to the increased targeted screening conducted at workplaces
, which
12,13
increased targeted screening conducted at workplaces 12,13 , which was a
was a public health effort by the MOH Malaysia in detecting and isolating
public health effort by the MOH Malaysia in detecting and isolating COVID-
COVID-19 cases among foreign workers.
19 cases among foreign workers.
The poor living and working conditions such as congested and unhygienic
environments have been identified as the main contributor to the high
transmission rates of COVID-19 observed among foreign workers 14-16 . Such
conditions have made physical distancing and good hygiene practices among
these workers difficult.

Another factor contributing to the drastic spread among foreign workers was
the employers' inability to detect symptomatic workers during the earlier

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