GEORGE TOWN – As immense fear of being infected with Covid-19 seeps in, Penangites cannot help but question the effectiveness of a nationwide lockdown.
Needless to say, despite the imposition of the movement control order (MCO) in the island state, Covid-19 cases have been spiralling over the past two weeks.
With daily nationwide cases having breached the 9,000 mark yesterday, Penang is also not showing signs of improvement in battling the pandemic.
Yesterday, the state recorded a total of 345 new cases, 274 involving Malaysian citizens and 71 being non-citizens, bringing its Covid-19 caseload to 28,050.
The Health Ministry had also identified 144 cases from close contacts, 81 who showed symptoms, 18 from self-screening, 9 from workplaces, 4 from pre-employment screening and 8 from other sources of screening.
The state reported 35 new cases from the Jalan Cassia Selatan Lima cluster, 14 from Jalan Kg Bukit cluster, 11 from Kawasan Perusahaan Valdor cluster, 6 from Jalan Bagan Ajam cluster, 4 from Bukit Minyak Industrial Zone cluster and 3 from Kawasan Perusahaan Maju Enam cluster.
There were 2 cases each from Kawasan Industri Zon Dagang Satu and Kawasan Perusahaan Maju Sepuluh and one case each from Sg Kluang Dua, Nibong Tebal Industrial Zone, Paya Bakar and Jalan Padang Lalang Dua.
The Bagan Ajam public market in Butterworth was closed with barbed wire during the Hari Raya Aidilfitri after more than 60 people including traders and customers were reportedly infected.
Yesterday, Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow said starting June, the vaccination rate in Penang will be ramped up to 22,000 persons each week.
He said this is a two-fold increase compared to this month’s vaccination rate.
In a statement, he said the state government will liaise with those involved in the National Covid-19 Immunisation Programme and the Penang Health Department on the matter. – The Vibes, May 30, 2021
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