GEORGE TOWN – Penang will have another three vaccination centres (PPVs) up and running by this month, in addition to the centres at six private hospitals, to ramp up the Covid-19 inoculation rate.
The new sites on the island are the Pesta Pulau Pinang site in Sg Nibong and the SPICE arena in Balik Pulau, as well as mainland’s Expo site in Seberang Jaya, said Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow.
These PPVs will complement existing ones at the Caring Society Complex here, Seberang Prai Arena Convention Centre in Bukit Mertajam, the Millennium Hall in Kepala Batas, the Jawi multipurpose hall in Nibong Tebal, Balik Pulau’s sports complex and the Bayan Baru wet market complex.
The PPVs will also be operational on Saturdays.
Penang is also looking into disallowing employers from engaging new workers if present staffers test positive.
Other proposals include compelling all new factory workers to undergo Covid-19 testing at their workplace, and the International Trade and Industry Ministry’s office in Penang to issue new standard operating procedures for factories that are allowed to open during the lockdown period.
“If they breach the regulations, the ministry should close the factories,” said Chow in a statement.
Meanwhile, Penang saw 85 Covid-19 deaths and 400 new cases yesterday. In comparison, the state was a green zone for 91 consecutive days last year.
George Town has the highest number of deaths at 43, followed by Kepala Batas (18), Balik Pulau (10), Bukit Mertajam (9) and Nibong Tebal (5).
George Town also has the most cases at 7,513 followed by Bukit Mertajam (6,539), Balik Pulau (6,538), Nibong Tebal (5,139) and Kepala Batas (3,290). – The Vibes, June 2, 2021
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