KUALA LUMPUR, July 13 — National Covid-19 Immunisation Programme Coordinating Minister Khairy Jamaluddin today said 204 out of 453 workers and volunteers at the Shah Alam Ideal Convention Centre (IDCC) vaccine distribution centre have tested positive for Covid-19. 

Khairy said all those who tested positive have been isolated and a new set of workers will man the PPV tomorrow after it was closed for sanitisation today.

"The good news is those who are positive have a low virus load.

"As soon as I got the information of the screening results, I ordered for an immediate closure for one day so that the cleaning and sanitisation work could be done by the Fire department,” he told an online press conference today.

Khairy added that the CITF had informed those with vaccination appointments today that these will be rescheduled to a later date via text and social media updates.

"Some CITF personnel will also be present at the IDCC today to let those who were not aware know that the PPV is closed today,” he added.

According to Khairy, 88 per cent, or 400 of the 453 staff, at the IDCC have been vaccinated.

"I ordered a mass Covid-19 screening for IDCC staff as soon as we received the report of two volunteers testing positive.

"This test was conducted on July 10, 2021 and involved all staff members,” he said.

Khairy said this is the first time a PPV has been closed due to Covid-19 infections and he hoped that it would not become a cluster or happen again.

He said that with the CITF’s swift action and most workers having been vaccinated, this should be the end of the matter and that the IDCC PPV will resume operations as usual tomorrow.

"I have ordered other PPVs to adhere to the SOPs without compromise.

"There was a CITF meeting just now. I told them that if any PPVs encounter problems such as congestion, they should inform the CITF immediately to get help,” he said.

Khairy said those with vaccination appointments tomorrow at the IDCC should get their jabs as planned.