BUKIT MERTAJAM – The Health Ministry has declared the Bukit Mertajam wet market in Jalan Pasar as a new Covid-19 cluster after several of its traders were found to be infected by the disease on May 31.
The market will be closed until June 9 for sanitisation works.
Seberang Prai Mayor Datuk Rozali Mohamud said in a statement that the market, which was closed on May 31, would remain shut as more traders were found positive with Covid-19.
“Until June 3, out of a total of 113 people who were tested, 10 were found to be positive and 17 negative.
“The authorities are still waiting for the results of the remaining 86 who underwent the screening for the pandemic.
“The Seberang Prai Municipal Council (MPSP) has urged all traders and individuals who were contacted by the District Health Department to undergo the swab test immediately or contact the District Health Department for an appointment.
“Cooperation is vital in this aspect,” he said.
Rozali said those failing to cooperate with the authorities could be prosecuted under the Prevention and Control of Infectious Diseases Act 342.
He reminded traders to halt business operations and hoped the public would adhere to the standard operating procedures during the lockdown to help the government curbing the spread of Covid-19.
Yesterday, Penang registered a total of 303 new cases, with 234 citizens and 69 non-citizens being confirmed positive for the virus.
The Northeast district recorded 83 cases, the Southwest district had 55 cases, Seberang Prai Tengah (91), Seberang Prai Utara (42) and Seberang Prai Selatan (32).
The state has 1,997 active cases with a caseload of 29,736. – The Vibes, June 4, 2021
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