In an update from the case of a barber in Setapak allegedly testing positive for Covid-19, our Health Director-General Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah has confirmed that the barber in question has contracted the virus. During his latest live televised address to the nation today (12th June 2020), the barber, who is of Pakistani origin, had been operating in secret during the first phase of the MCO that started on 18th March 2020.
While the barbershop he worked in was closed from 18th March 2020 until 10th June 2020, the barber personally offered private door-to-door barber services through telephone, and had serviced 25 customers. Through phone records, four have been identified to be his housemates, while 21 have been identified as clients.
In addition, when the barbershop reopened, the barber was also found to have offered his services to 15 other clients on 11th June 2020.
This would mean that in total, over 40 people have been identified as close contact cases.
Dr Noor Hisham has mentioned that these 40 people have received Covid-19 testing and have been instructed to self-isolate at home. At present moment, the infected barber has been sent to Sg Buloh Hospital for quarantine and treatment. The source of his infection is still under investigation.
What do you guys think of this development?
