JOHOR BARU: A total of 21 Sultanah Aminah Hospital (HSA) medical staff have tested positive for Covid-19, says Dr Mohtar Pungut @ Ahmad.

       The HSA director said that a cluster had been detected at the emergency and trauma department of the hospital on Friday (Aug 20).

       "Screening and close contact tracing were conducted and a total of 21 Covid-19 cases were detected involving medical staff.

       "The hospital's management has taken immediate action to prevent and control the spread of the disease in the facility.

       "Among steps taken include identifying workplace, home and close social contacts as well as taking swab tests of close contacts.

       "Individuals involved are receiving treatment, being quarantined and monitored based on patient and close contact categories," he said in a statement posted on HSA's Facebook page.

       Dr Mohtar added that sanitisation had been conducted at all locations involved and that the operation of the emergency and trauma department would not be affected.

       "The workers' safety and health environment unit will continue to monitor the situation, including the condition of the patients involved," he said, adding that infection control would also be monitored more closely.

       Dr Mohtar also urged the public to continue adhering to standard operating procedures (SOP) in the new normal even if they have been vaccinated.