COVID-19: Over 2,000 foreign workers involved in haircut sector

The Ministry of Health (MOH) has acknowledged its concern with the involvement of foreigners in the country's employment sector including barber shops after the industry was allowed to resume operation.

Health director-general Datuk Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah said the data received by MOH showed that more than 2,000 foreign workers were involved in the service.

Therefore, he said in order to prevent the spread of COVID-19, the group was required to undergo screening tests.

“One of the conditions for them to start working in the barber shops is that they have to undergo the COVID-19 test for foreign hairdressers.

"So, we have implemented this condition and now we see a positive case. That is our concern if we look at the symptoms and so on.

"Although the patient or the hairdresser has no symptoms, we will still isolate them in the hospital and will also screen close contacts or track traces among their friends, roommates and clients," he said at a press conference here on Friday.

Earlier, at the same press conference, Dr Noor Hisham confirmed receiving a COVID-19 case report involving a Pakistani hairdresser who works at a barber shop in the capital.