BUKIT MERTAJAM – The Health Ministry has ordered the Taman Chai Leng wet market in Prai to close after 11 traders there tested positive for Covid-19.
The market was immediately shut for sanitisation and to allow the authorities to conduct contact-tracing.
Seberang Prai City Council councillor David Marshel said council workers have cordoned off the site and carried out disinfection as a preventive measure.
“The market will be closed indefinitely. We are making arrangements to trace those who were in close contact with the (infected) traders and their immediate families.”
The closure order was issued by the ministry this afternoon under Sub-section 18(1)(d) of the Prevention and Control of Infectious Diseases Act 1988.
Marshel said all traders at the market will be screened for the coronavirus.
“We want all those who patronised the market between June 18 and today to undergo screening.”
Last month, the Bagan Ajam market was ordered shut on the first day of Hari Raya Aidilfitri after the authorities detected 43 Covid-19 cases. Another 60 people tested positive later.
The Bukit Mertajam wet market in Jalan Pasar, too, was closed from May 31 to June 10 after three traders caught the virus.
On May 17, the Jelutong market was shut after four cases, also among traders, were reported. The Jalan Perak market was similarly closed on June 11. – The Vibes, June 20, 2021
