Catholic church mass attendee in KL tests positive for Covid-19

By Marina Emmanuel - October 14, 2020 @ 11:16pm

KUALA LUMPUR: The Archdiocese of Kuala Lumpur today disclosed that a parishioner of a church in Kuala Lumpur tested positive for Covid-19 two days ago.

"An attendee at the 9.15am Tamil Mass on Sept 25 at the Church of the Sacred Heart, Jalan Peel, has tested positive for Covid-19 on Oct 12 and is currently undergoing treatment in Sg Buloh," the Archdiocesan Crisis Management Task Force said in a statement.

It said that the patient was asymptomatic at that point in time and had attended mass before all public masses were suspended on Oct 7.

"The parish had also fully complied with the National Security Council's standard operating procedures and the Archdiocesan guidelines before, during and after the mass, to reduce the risk of infection.

"We have cooperated with the public health authorities in providing them with the necessary contact listing information together with details of the seating arrangement in the church.

"The District Health Office is currently investigating the matter and will be in touch with the relevant contacts of the patient as part of contact tracing efforts," it added.

The task force also urged all the faithful to remain vigilant and take the necessary precautions to remain safe.

It has also requested that parishioners and attendees of the mass on Sept 27 to remain calm.

"Those who have attended the above mass and have begun to display symptoms should seek appropriate medical attention soonest possible," it noted.

All public masses at the Church of Sacred Heart have been suspended since Oct 7 and the church has closed today in compliance with the Conditional Movement Control Order (CMCO).

"It will also undertake a complete sanitisation of its facilities and common areas in accordance with public health standards.

"Moving forward, we will continue to be vigilant, safe, and responsible in all endeavours. Covid-19 is a brutal reality, but together, we can all collectively reduce its spread by following the recommended public health practices issued by the authorities," said the statement.