GEORGE TOWN – Penang has welcomed the reduction in daily Covid-19 cases, saying that the infections can be further reduced to single digits, which will lead to the removal of its red-zone status.
Confirming that Penang’s Covid-19 cases have dropped from a high of 162 cases two weeks ago to 106 yesterday, state executive councillor Phee Boon Poh said the daily cases can be reduced to single digits with strict public compliance to the health standard operating procedures (SOPs).
It is imperative for Penang to detach itself from the red-zone status due to the need to balance its health and economy, he told The Vibes.
“We must balance health and economy. Right now, the lingering issue about Covid-19 in the workplace is contained.”
On a new Covid-19 cluster at an old folks’ home at Sg Dua in the Seberang Prai Utara district, Phee said the spread at the home has come under control after three days.
Yesterday, Senior Minister (Security) Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob announced that Penang and several states will be placed under the conditional movement control order after six weeks of the movement control order (MCO 2.0).
Penang Medical Practitioners’ Society president Dr Parmjit Singh told The Vibes that the number of cases in the state is lowered, and that the government can consider implementing MCOs in targeted areas.
Most cases are reported from factories as there are many asymptomatic cases.
Despite the fear of a possible “Chinese New Year cluster”, a few doctors at Penang General Hospital said that there were none.
Parmjit believes that it is the MCO that helped curb the spread. “The MCO remained enforced from until after Chap Goh Meh (February 26). I believe it is the government’s plan to ensure the MCO is in place during the festive season to control the surge of cases.” – The Vibes, March 3, 2021
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