GEORGE TOWN – Nearly half of Covid-19 cases in Penang originated from factories and industries here, while 30% were from other job sectors, said Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow.
In a statement today, he said 49% of cases in the state are from factories and industries, while the construction sector made up 3%.
The remaining infections are believed to be associated with close contacts or other clusters, he added.
In view of this, Chow said the federal government should utilise the state of emergency to mobilise more assets and resources to help Penang better contain the rise of Covid-19 infections.
Yesterday, the state recorded one of its highest single-day infection tolls with 202 cases.
There are now 10 active clusters in Penang.
Up to Wednesday, Chow said of the 128,889 foreign workers registered with the Social Security Organisation (Socso) as of December 7, only 19,792 of them have been screened.
He added that another 13,336 foreign workers were screened by their employers on their own initiative.
This makes the total number of foreign migrant workers screened at 33,128 and a positivity rate of 3.22%.
He urged for screening efforts of workers in factories – foreign and locals – be tightened so contact tracing and treatment can be implemented to break the chain of infection.
Meanwhile, in Langkawi, Ayer Hangat assemblyman Datuk Juhari Bulat, who is the Kedah state speaker, recommended that the island bar anyone from coming ashore for a certain period to check the infections there.
This came after the island resort recorded 26 cases over the past week.
Juhari said the only sure way of containing the spread is to bar anyone from coming over.
Currently, there is a limited number of flights and ferry services to the island and visitors upon arrivals are screened for symptoms, including body temperature checks.
One floor of the Langkawi Development Authority (Lada) building has been sealed off due to a close contact with a Covid-19 case, while luxury resort The Datai has decided to temporarily closed its doors due to the movement control order.
Several other hospitality properties have also decided to temporarily close or limit their operations.
Tourism Langkawi chairman Ahmad Pishol Isahak urged the islanders to stay resolute and abide by the standard operating procedures so the district can regain its green zone status.
“We can easily be disheartened by how Covid-19 infects people with ease. But we have no choice but to win this war or risk the collapse of the tourism industry.” – The Vibes, January 23, 2021
