A further 11 positive COVID-19 cases were detected via a screening done in Parliament yesterday.

The cases were uncovered after two positive cases were initially reported in the August House, Health director-general Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah said in a statement today.

"The first case was a staff who attended Parliament from Monday to Wednesday and was diagnosed as COVID-19 positive via a RT PCR screening, after being tested for experiencing cough and flu symptoms.

"The second person suffered from coughs and tested positive after undergoing a RTK Antigen saliva test at the Parliament yesterday morning," Noor Hisham said.

According to Hisham further, both the individuals had also tested negative when they were screened before the Parliamentary sitting began, but they were found to have been in other locations around the Parliament building when the special four-day sitting was in session.

This is what led to the mass screening using the RTK Antigen saliva test at the Parliament building yesterday, he added.

"As of 8pm last night, a total of 1,183 individuals had undergone the secreening, and a further nine positive cases were detected - bringing the total number of individuals diagnosed positive via the saliva test to 10.

"In all, a total of 11 positive COVID-19 cases were recorded yesterday - 10 of which were via the saliva test, and one through the RT PCR test," said Noor Hisham, adding that only about two of those who tested positive had mild symptoms, while the rest were asymptomatic.

The health authorities will conduct contact tracing following the outbreak, the DG said.

He further urged those who will be attending the Parliamentary sitting next week to undergo COVID-19 screening beforehand.



In a statement yesterday, Noor Hisham had revealed that a total of 56 COVID-19 cases were detected in Parliament as of Wednesday. This includes two MPs, six escort officers, and 48 officials from various government agencies.

Malaysia has consistently recorded high number of COVID-19 cases in the last few weeks.

Yesterday, 17,170 new COVID-19 cases, and 174 deaths were recorded, bringing the total number of cases and fatalities in the country to 1.07 million, and 8,725, respectively.


Photo source: Malay Mail