An Outbreak Investigation of COVID-19 among Furniture Factory Workers at Kuala Langat District, Selangor, Malaysia

Abstract

On 9 Dec 2020, a coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) case was reported in Telok Datuk Panglima Garang, Kuala Langat District, Selangor, Malaysia. The findings revealed that the virus originated from a distributing site of a furniture factory, where the index case worked as a lorry driver. The outbreak investigation was conducted by health district officers using a COVID-19 public health risk assessment. We determined the exposure risk of the index case, and close contacts (families, relatives, work colleagues, and segments of the population) that were likely to be infected. One hundred furniture factory workers were screened and five workers, including the index case, were confirmed positive using real-time polymerase chain reaction. Those who tested positive were lorry drivers and lorry attendants who were stationed at loading area A. No workers from the other areas were tested positive, suggesting localized transmission in the factory. The COVID-19 public health risk assessment, isolation of index cases and quarantine of close contacts have enabled effective control measures in preventing further spread and community transmission.