ALOR SETAR: A Kedah state executive councillor (exco) tested positive for Covid-19 after helping out with the campaigning in the recent Sabah election.
Sources said the exco member was warded at the Sultanah Bahiyah Hospital here for treatment yesterday and was said to be a close contact to an assistant who was confirmed to have contracted the novel coronavirus a few days ago.
Menteri Besar Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor was reported saying three exco members were absent from the exco meeting on Wednesday as they were undergoing home quarantine.
State Health and Local Government Committee chairman Datuk Dr Mohd Hayati Othman said more than 400 people, including the Alor Setar prison staff, had been screened since yesterday, following the detection of the Tembok Cluster in Kedah.
"The health authorities are taking immediate action by screening close contacts to break the Covid-19 infection chain in the state," he said when contacted today.
Dr Mohd Hayati also reminded the public and state leadership to stay vigilant and adopt the new normal.
"Now is not the time to shake hands or hug even during wedding ceremonies. We must practise the standard operating procedures (SOP) which have been set by the government.
"Only by doing so (adopting SOP), we can break the infection chain. We must never let our guard down so that we can prevent new clusters," he said.