COVID-19: Foreign security guards must go for screening tests

The government today ruled that all foreign security guards are required to go for a COVID-19 infection health screening test.

Senior Minister (Security Cluster) Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob said the screening had to be done after the Ministry of Health (MOH) detected a new cluster involving the group.

He said the government had also directed the Ministry of Home Affairs to issue an official letter on the matter.

"Based on the discussions of all parties, the government has decided to make it compulsory for all foreign security guards to go for health screening test.

"This is because they have so many contacts, especially those who are stationed at shopping malls, including taking body temperature and so on," he said in a daily press conference here on Friday.

Health director-general Datuk Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah said yesterday the ministry had detected another new cluster involving security guards and security personnel at a shopping mall in Cheras, Kuala Lumpur.

Ismail Sabri added that the MOH had taken action against the cluster by isolating all security personnel who were found to be COVID-19 positive for treatment.

"In addition, the MoH is still tracking the contacts involved with this cluster to conduct screening tests so that it does not continue to spread.

"However, the decision to close the mall has not yet been made and if the MOH suggests it should be closed, we will close it," he said.