MELAKA: The Health Ministry has conducted Covid-19 swab tests on 150 people at the Portuguese Settlement here and placed them under quarantine, says Save The Portuguese Action Committee chairman Martin Theseira (pic).

       He said the tests were done on Sunday (July 18) after the Settlement's former headman Peter Gomez was rushed to the Melaka Hospital on Saturday (July 17).

       “Gomez was still normal when I met him three days ago during my sanitisation work at the Settlement, and I was told that his health condition rapidly deteriorated less than two days after he tested positive,” said Theseira.

       Theseira said that the condition of the 65-year-old Gomez reflects the severity of the infection within the Settlement and added that the necessary measures must be carried out at once.

       “However, there are still many residents who have yet to be screened and many families can't afford to pay for the swab tests due to the price," he added.

       Theseira said many from the community have voiced concern over the increasing number of Covid-19 cases in recent days.

       "We are a small community and the impact could be devastating if it's not contained effectively," he said.