KUALA LUMPUR, April 18 — Health director-general Datuk Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah today said that health authorities are considering a move to screen all food delivery riders for Covid-19. 

Dr Noor Hisham said, what was certain, however, is that these Covid-19 tests will be made available at various government health clinics or private healthcare institutions where the riders can always get their tests done. 

"At the moment, food providers must obtain approval from the ministry, that is the standard we have.

"If we look at food delivery riders, we will consider enabling them to undergo a health screening and they will only be allowed to deliver food if they are found healthy,” he said during a press conference here.

When asked whether the government would pay for the screening cost, Dr Noor Hisham said the matter was under the responsibility of the respective food delivery service companies of which tests could be performed in either public or private clinics.

"What is certain is that we will encourage them to come to our clinics for screening. For example, if there is a super spreader in a hospital, these delivery riders could be infected when they deliver food there.

"What is important is that we have to make sure they are safe. For those who are registered with a company, there should not be a problem, but for those non-registered, they have to take a personal interest in their health. We will look into the best available method,” he said.

He also said the ministry has no available data on the number of food delivery riders who have tested positive for Covid-19 to date.

Malaysia is currently on its fourth day of the expanded third phase of movement control order (MCO) which began on April 15.

The MCO has prohibited the public from eating at restaurants, but instead, they are allowed to order food via a takeaway option.