Is Covid-19 spike in Hentian cluster due to testing backlog? - Bangi MP

 

Bangi lawmaker Ong Kian Ming has questioned if a backlog in processing test samples is what caused today’s Covid-19 case spike in the Hentian cluster.

According to Health Ministry figures, the cluster saw 164 new cases in the past 24 hours as of 12noon today.

The cluster has recorded a total of 662 cases thus far, of which 314 are active and in treatment. The other 348 cases have recovered.

As for RT-PCR test samples, health officials have taken 7,130 swabs as part of its active case detection procedures for the cluster. The ministry did not disclose how many sample results were pending.

Ong pointed out that the Hentian Kajang locality - where the cluster is named after - has been under an enhanced movement control order (MCO) since Oct 28.

The MP in charge of overseeing the area, he speculated if today’s spike in case numbers was due to a delay in reporting test results.

“The detected cases today for the Hentian cluster are likely from a backlog of samples taken at the beginning of the enhanced MCO at the end of October.

“I cannot verify this since the Selangor Health Department doesn't release detailed information to the public or to the Selangor government,” he lamented in a series of tweets tonight.

The DAP lawmaker thus requested the ministry disclose more detailed testing data including the number of backlogged tests and the infection rates for specific areas.

“We need access to detailed data so that a clearer picture of the Covid-19 transmission rates and mechanisms can be better understood by the public and other stakeholders.

“It will also keep the ministry accountable to the media and other organisations,” Ong added.

Health director-general Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah announces cumulative nationwide RT-PCR and Rapid Test Kit (Antigen) test numbers in his daily press conferences.

He typically does not provide a breakdown by district or disclose the number of backlogged tests.

The Selangor Task Force for Covid-19 previously urged the ministry to resume sharing granular case data to enable it to assist with active case detection, targeted testing, strategic mapping and zone profiling.

In response, Noor Hisham said the ministry had to deny the task force’s request to prevent conflicting interpretations of raw data.

By centralising data analysis at the federal level, the top official explained the ministry could standardise information communicated to state health departments.  - Mkini

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