As of yesterday afternoon (Wednesday, 14th October), the number of Covid-19 cases from 1 Utama Shopping Centre has shot up to 63 and counting.
The Petaling District Disaster Management Committee (Petaling JPBD) chairperson Johary Anuar shared that 6,000 workers at the mall and 110 shoppers had been tested for the virus.
Of the confirmed positive cases, 16 are mall workers (including one from the mall’s management team), 44 of its security personnel had contracted the virus, while 3 other cases were detected from customers who had visited the complex this month.
Here’s a breakdown:
- Complex Management Employees: 1
- Complex workers: 15 cases
- Security guards: 44
- Shoppers: 3 cases
“In light of this situation and based on recommendations from the Petaling District Health Office, the Petaling JPBD has decided that the 1 Utama shopping complex management should continue testing on all workers,” Johary was quoted as saying.
He added, “The complex’s management must also ensure that its security company appoints new security personnel, who must not be appointed among those who are close contacts of the infected security workers. All new security personnel must undergo Covid-19 screening before starting work.”
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1 Utama has been closed since 11th October.
Update (15th October, 11:30am):
Petaling JPBD had just posted an update on its Facebook page, stating that the Covid-19 cases had reached 105 – 79 security guards (up from previous 44) and 18 cleaners.
However, the management from 1 Utama has refuted Petaling JPBD’s previous report. “(We) wish to clarify that 1 Utama does not have 63 cases. It is misleading to imply that all cases stated in their (Petaling JPBD) report originated from 1 Utama as no index case has been identified as coming from 1 Utama,” the statement reads.
The management added that the complex only found 21 positive cases.
