No cluster of infection among barbers so far

KUALA LUMPUR (June 14): The only one infection detected among barbers in the country does not form a cluster, said Health director-general Datuk Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah.

"At this juncture, we do not have any barbershop cluster, as we have only one positive case reported so far," he told the media yesterday.

He pointed out the investigation is still ongoing and the patient is being treated at the hospital while those people who have close contact with the barber are required to self-quarantine at home.

Noor Hisham said the barber did not follow standard operating procedures by providing services to clients during Movement Control Order being enforced and resumed his work prior to the release of Covid-19 screening test results.

According to him, there were 25 close contacts identified through phone-call records, of whom four are his housemates and 21 customers.

The barbershop restarted operations on Wednesday, and his employer took him for Covid-19 screening. There were 15 close contacts who received haircuts from him until Thursday, said Noor Hisham.

"With that, the number of close contacts identified was 40. They have all gone for Covid-19 screenings and ordered to be quarantined at home," said Noor Hisham.

Noor Hisham said there are over 2,000 foreign workers listed as barbers and hairstylists.

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