An American National Who Flew To KL Has Now Tested Positive For COVID-19
This has brought the confirmed cases to 22 in the country.
By Sadho Ram — 16 Feb 2020, 10:34 AM
Last night, 15 February, the Ministry of Health announced that a new case of COVID-19 has been identified in Kuala Lumpur
According to the announcement, the new case involves an 83-year-old American national.
Health director general (D-G) Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah said that the patient is a woman who was among a group of 145 passengers of a cruise ship that docked in Cambodia on 13 February.
She landed at the KL International Airport on Friday, 14 February, from Cambodia where she was cleared by the Cambodian government to return to their respective countries after a health screening.
"All 145 passengers of the ship have taken a flight to Malaysia on 14 February. Out of the number, the woman and her 85-year-old husband who arrived at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport on Friday showed symptoms of infection," read a statement issued by the Ministry of Health (MOH).
The American woman with her husband are currently warded at the Sungai Buloh Hospital (HSB), where they are undergoing further tests
The woman, whose tests by the Institute for Medical Research found her positive on Saturday is reported to be in a stable condition and is being isolated at the hospital facility.
"The husband, who is also an American citizen, was tested negative. He is still receiving treatment and being monitored at the hospital due to his symptoms," the MOH statement read.
After the woman tested positive, MOH also started the process of tracing flight crew members and passengers onboard the same flight
"The Health Ministry is working closely with airlines to get the particulars of the passengers," Deputy Health Minister Dr Lee Boon Chye was quoted as saying by New Straits Times today, 16 February.
Dr Lee said that all passengers and flight crew members on the same flight with the patient would be issued a Health Alert Card despite not displaying the coronavirus disease symptoms.
"Only those who sit close to the patient are considered contacts and they will be subjected to physical examination and COVID-19 examination as well as 14 days self-quarantine," he added.
