KUALA LUMPUR: The Taman Megah morning market has been closed after one of its traders was tested positive for Covid-19.
Health director-general Datuk Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah said today that after the ministry was notified of the case, they closed down the market and have since started active case detection of close contacts of the infected trader.
There are 60 traders at the market and all are considered close contacts and the ministry hopes to detect any positive cases from among this group, he said.
"From our experience with close contacts, the detection rate is about 30 per cent. The detection rate is always much higher if we focus on close contacts rather than everyone in an area.
Screening has started and we hope to control the infection," he said.
As to whether all customers of the morning market should also get themselves screened, Dr Noor Hisham said this would only be necessary if they have had contact with the positive case.
What's more important, he said, is for customers of the morning market to practise good social distancing and wash their hands as they move from one stall to another in the market.
"This is the new norm that we need to do. Take all the precautionary measures and maintain good personal hygiene," he said.
Today, Malaysia recorded 38 new cases, but 100 patients recovered and were discharged from hospitals. No new deaths from Covid-19 were recorded.