MELAKA: A high infection rate among workers at a manufacturing plant in Tangga Batu here contributed to an all-time record of 1,120 daily Covid-19 cases reported in the state on Monday (Aug 16).

       Melaka health and anti-drug committee chairman Datuk Rahmad Mariman said the Tangga Batu cluster alone accounted for 56.8% or 636 of the cases reported.

       “The cluster emerged on Aug 14 and so far there have been 680 positive cases, 97 of whom are foreigners.

       “The remaining positive cases (reported on Monday) involved existing clusters,” he said.

       Rahmad was commenting on concerns raised by locals over the unprecedented number of positive Covid-19 cases.

       Melaka reported a four-figure daily case count for the first time since last year.

       Rahmad said preventive measures had been put in place at the plant, which manufactures pharmaceutical products as well as personal protective equipment, to contain the spread of infection.

       However, he said, the number of Category Three to Five patients reported statewide had reduced significantly with only 16 cases on Monday.

       Melaka is set to enter the second phase of the National Recovery Plan (NRP) with its high inoculation rate.

       Melaka National Safety Council (NSC) director Mohd Nasrul Menhat said those registering for vaccination through the MySejahtera app had reached 91.7% of the eligible population, a figure considered to be among the highest in the country.

       He added that the registration rate for inoculation could reach 100% soon with all the efforts in place.