Covid-19: Tropicana Resort flouts order to close, positive cases grow to 23

PETALING JAYA (Oct 12): Tropicana Golf and Country Resort, which has continued operating yesterday despite being ordered to close earlier, has doubled its positive cases to at least 23 today among its local and foreign employees.

"We just received information from the Health Ministry that another 12 tested positive as of Monday (Oct 12) morning,” said Petaling Jaya OCPD Asst Comm Nik Ezanee Mohd Faisal in The Star today.

"This makes it 23 positive cases within the grounds of the Tropicana Golf and Country Resort's workers' hostel," he told reporters outside the workers' hostel today.

Earlier on on Sunday (Oct 11), there were already 11 positive cases identified.

The Health Ministry issued an order to close the golf resort on Saturday (Oct 10), but its officials found the directive ignored.

"Health Ministry officials lodged a report on Sunday at the Damansara police station that it was still operating and a team of police officers dispatched there confirmed it,” Nik Ezanee said.

An investigation paper has been opened under Section 269 of the Penal Code and Section 22(B) of the Prevention and Control of Infectious Disease Act for negligently committing any act which was likely to spread the infection of disease dangerous to life, he added.

To enforce the enhanced movement control order (MCO), 20 personnel have been stationed at the workers’ hostel.

"A total of 597 staff comprising both locals and foreigners have been targeted for screening. We have been told that screenings will begin on Wednesday," Nik Ezanee said.

In response to whether a conditional MCO would be implemented in Petaling Jaya, he said based on police assessment of the situation, they would make certain recommendations to higher authorities this evening.

"For now everyone in Petaling Jaya should lessen their movement. Once you finish work, go home. Try to postpone gatherings and ceremonies for the time being," he stressed.

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