Polling stream temporarily closed after voter tests positive for Covid-19

A voting stream at a polling station in Alor Gajah was temporarily closed after an individual was confirmed positive for Covid-19 after voting in the Melaka state election today.

Melaka health director Dr Rusdi Abd Rahman said the Covid-19 test results of the individual were received from a private laboratory after the voter had cast the ballot. The voter did not show any Covid-19 symptoms when voting.

“Upon being notified by the Melekek Covid-19 Assessment Centre (CAC), the Alor Gajah District Health Office (PKD) directed Election Commission (EC) officials at the polling centre to temporarily close high-risk areas including the affected voting stream for a thorough disinfection process.

“The disinfection process was carried out with the cooperation of the Fire and Rescue Department, and the Alor Gajah PKD surveillance team was deployed to the polling centre concerned to ensure infection-control work was conducted in an orderly manner,” he said in a statement.

He said the EC had also taken immediate steps to open a new room to replace the affected voting stream with the use of new equipment.

He said the Melaka Health Department viewed the incident seriously and that the Alor Gajah PKD was conducting further investigation, including tracing all close and social contacts of the patient.

Rusdi urged the public to refer to official statements from the health ministry and Melaka Health Department regarding further developments.

Any enquiries on the matter can be directed to the Melaka Crisis Preparedness and Response Centre (CPRC) at 06-2345999 or email [email protected].