KEPALA BATAS – The Seberang Prai City Council (MBSP) has ordered the public market here to close from today until at least Wednesday following the detection of 14 Covid-19 cases.
In a statement today, the council said five stall owners and nine workers contracted the virus.
MBSP Mayor Datuk Rozali Mohamud said talks are ongoing with the district Health Department to determine the situation in areas near the market.
“We are taking into consideration the Health Department’s findings in evaluating the risk of infection at the market.
“As a preventive measure, MBSP has instructed all stall owners there to stop business immediately until a notice to resume is issued.”
Stall owners and their staff may return to work on Saturday if their RT-PCR or RTK Antigen tests from today return negative.
Rozali called on all those operating out of the market, as well as customers who were there recently, to immediately undergo screening.
He also announced that the Bukit Mertajam public market has been ordered closed from August 4 until Friday at least, following the discovery of Covid-19 cases involving 22 stall owners and 22 workers, including 11 migrant employees.
There are a total of 390 stall owners at the market and more than 300 workers involved in overall operations.
So far, said Rozali, 126 stall owners and 110 workers have undergone screening, with 44 found positive, among them 11 locals and 11 migrant workers.
MBSP has urged the remaining stall owners and workers to undergo testing at the district Health Department and private clinics, or via the state’s Saring Covid-19 programme.
The test results must be submitted to MBSP.
Rozali said the council will continue to monitor shops and premises near the Bukit Mertajam market to ensure they display the MySejahtera code and follow the standard operating procedures. – The Vibes, August 9, 2021
