KUALA LUMPUR – Bukit Gasing assemblyman Rajiv Rishyakaran has suspended his noble deed in offering cheap Covid-19 tests after an outcry over crowds congregating at the clinics involved.
In a Facebook post yesterday, Rajiv reported with “great sadness” the suspension of RM70 Covid-19 testing at three partner clinics due to overwhelmingly large crowds queuing to get tested.
“This has caused great anxiety to everyone in the vicinity,” he said in the post.
“We are working with our partners to bring back this testing in a way that can handle bigger crowds so that you can access the test in a safer environment.”
He said it was “unfortunate” that the Health Ministry “refuses to make Covid-19 testing affordable and accessible nationally for all of us.”
“We’ll be back soon,” he added.
The cheaper screenings were offered at PJ Polyclinic in Old Town, Petaling Jaya, Klinik One Medic in Puchong, Selangor, and Klinik Kim in Phileo Damansara, Petaling Jaya.
Earlier this week, tenants of Phileo Damansara II here were up in arms over a clinic there becoming a hive of activity due to the initiative.
Some of the tenants pointed to the long queues of people using common elevators to go to the clinic on the third floor of Block B, raising fears of a “Phileo cluster”.
“The narrow lifts and corridors are not meant for social distancing and the last thing we need are Covid-19 positive people using our facilities and being in our building,” said one tenant who declined to be named.
Rajiv’s initiative was a welcome respite for some who could not afford regular RTK-Antigen testing costing up to RM300 each.
However, the move was not well-received by others – one legal firm that threatened action if any one of their staff contracts the virus from the premises.
“We wish to make it clear to you that having Covid-19 tests carried out in an office building with limited corridor and lift space and with long queues forming as patients await testing is entirely unacceptable and in blatant disregard of (Health Ministry’s) requirements,” the letter reads.
Previously, Rajiv had urged the government to ramp up the country’s testing capacity by making them more affordable and available to the public.
He also pushed the government to involve private clinics and conduct on-site mass testing by setting up tents and other outdoor methods. – The Vibes, January 14, 2021
