GEORGE TOWN – It is going to be tougher to contain Covid-19 now compared to the two movement control orders (MCO) previously due to the surge in community cases, said the Penang Island City Council (MBPP) mayor Datuk Yew Tung Seang.
“The cases in the community have now exceeded the clusters in the state,” he said after accompanying state Housing, Local Government, Town, and Country Planning executive councillor Jagdeep Singh Deo on an inspection visit to the Chowrasta market yesterday.
Yew said that the people, despite being compliant in the past, need to continue to do so by adhering to the standard operating procedures.
Penang is now under the 419th consecutive day of some form of movement restriction with no signs of waning.
Under MCO 3.0, the people are facing new virus variants, which have gone beyond infecting the just the old and those with comorbidities.
The virus has spread from clusters in factories, workplace and hostels to schools and more frequent sporadic detection in communities.
Yew said the MBPP wants to use this MCO as an opportunity to firmly contain the spread of the virus, but it needs the cooperation of all, from employers to community leaders and the average person.
“We have to take action so do not blame us if we have to issue compounds or close places.”
Earlier, Jagdeep said based on the exponential rise in cases, the federal government has no choice but to invoke a third MCO.
He reminded people here that Penang was once a leading state in fighting the virus where it enjoyed 104 consecutive days without any infection last year.
MBPP and the Seberang Prai Municipal Council have recorded 99% compliance in the 1.86 million commercial and educational premises inspected.
Jagdeep said the people must be resilient and do not let their guard down, and follow these three steps – maintain SOPs, register for the vaccine, and get inoculated when called.
Registration for the vaccine in the country is still at a snail’s pace, where out of an estimated national population base of 33 million, only 9.98 million have registered as of last Sunday, he added.
Of the 9.98 million, only 1.78 million were fully dosed nationwide, while in Penang, 112,736 have been fully vaccinated versus an estimated population base of 1.7 million.
Jagdeep said that the health authorities are embarking on a fresh campaign to encourage more people living in the country to get vaccinated.
It was also reported that all private institutions of higher learning cannot have face to face learning except for those who have received special permission since they are preparing for examinations before June 7 when the MCO period comes under review. – The Vibes, May 12, 2021
