GEORGE TOWN – The Penang government has proposed that factories here set up low-risk Covid-19 centres in their respective compounds to treat their infected employees.
Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow said the matter will be brought up during National Security Council (NSC) discussions if the number of Covid-19 cases involving foreign workers in the state continues to climb.
So far, he said, about 15,000 out of 144,000 foreign workers have been screened for Covid-19 in Penang.
“The proposal to create low-risk centres in factories is similar to what was done at the Penang Remand Prison and Seberang Prai Prison. Centres were set up to treat wardens and prisoners who tested positive.
“The state health department will assume the responsibility of ensuring that the proposed factories have suitable facilities before being gazetted as low-risk Covid-19 centres for their infected employees,” he told a press conference today.
Chow said the state government is currently identifying other premises to be used as quarantine centres to avoid congestion, as previously reported at the Balik Pulau Sports Complex.
Among the locations identified, he said, is the Setia Spice Convention Centre in Bayan Baru that can accommodate more than 1,000 patients at any one time.
“The proposed new locations will be submitted to the NSC for approval to obtain an allocation from the federal government for operation and management costs.” – The Vibes, January 6, 2021
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