BUKIT MERTAJAM – All economic sectors in Penang have been told to prepare to face a reimposition of the movement control order (MCO) to curb the spread of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Penang Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow said the state government was waiting for the federal government’s decision on the reimplementation of the MCO, whether it would be enforced nationwide or only in states categorised as Covid-19 red zones.
“I was made to understand that the federal government will conduct engagement sessions with representatives from the economic and industrial sectors to get feedback on the impacts if the MCO is implemented again. We will wait for the outcome,” he told reporters after witnessing the swearing-in of 24 Seberang Prai City Council (MBSP) councillors at Menara Bandaraya here today.
He said the state government had learned so much during the previous MCO, as each sector would be impacted differently depending on types of business and operations, among others.
Therefore, Chow urged all sectors to formulate strategies to face the possibility of another MCO.
Previously, the Health Ministry suggested the implementation of a targeted MCO to ease the strain on the healthcare system due to the sharp increase in the number of Covid-19 cases in the country.
In a related development, Chow said the state government is currently focusing on preparing low-risk Covid-19 quarantine centres to deal with the rise in Covid-19 cases as health screenings on foreign workers are being conducted in full swing.
He said the Penang government was waiting for the federal government’s decision regarding its suggestions to set up several low-risk Covid-19 quarantine centres in the state.
He said the proposed quarantine centres’ suitability was evaluated by the state Health Department before it was submitted to the federal administration.
The state government also submitted the application seeking allocation from the federal government to operate the quarantine centres, he added.
All the districts in Penang are now red zones and yesterday, it recorded 111 new positive cases. – Bernama, January 8, 2021
