COVID-19: Screening foreign workers for the benefit of all

The government has instructed all foreign workers to undergo the COVID-19 screening test aimed at preventing new clusters from joining the group.

Senior Minister (Security Cluster) Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob said the decision was also taken on the advice of the Ministry of Health (MOH) as well as safeguarding the interests of the people in the country.

However, he said the screening test was a priority for the construction sector in the Federal Territories of Kuala Lumpur and Selangor.

"We issued a directive yesterday on fears of a new cluster emerging involving foreign workers as two consecutive days of COVID-19 infection cases have seen an increase involving them.

"So, we have closed down operations at the site and ordered that screening tests be conducted so that those who are positive can be separated," he told a daily media conference here on Tuesday.

Ismail Sabri, who is also the Minister of Defence, said efforts were being made to prevent the spread of the epidemic among foreign workers as was the case in Singapore.

"Associations or employers need to understand that this action is in the best interests of everyone and if there is a COVID-19 infection involving workers, we will have to close either the factory or the construction," he said.