GEORGE TOWN – Penang’s new Covid-19 low-risk treatment centre is set to open at the Mara Excellence Centre in Jawi on Wednesday following the closure of a similar centre at Caring Society Complex here on March 2.
The Buddhist Tzu-Chi Merits Society, which is contributing voluntary hands and materials for the venue, has been helping in the setup since Friday.
A total of 17 canopy walkways for patients and medical staff were assembled yesterday.
Society commissioner Khoo Boo Leong said members are working with 11 medical assistants from Penang General Hospital during the setup period.
According to one of the doctors, the centre will make efficient use of resources as it will serve the whole state, doing away with the need for several centres in various spots.
Meanwhile, it was business as usual in Penang after the conditional movement control order was reinstated across the country on Friday, after almost two months of the stricter movement control order.
Penang exco for local government Jagdeep Singh Deo urged Penangites to continue being vigilant as the fight against the pandemic is not over, even with the arrival of the first batch of vaccines last month.
“A few assemblymen and I went to get the vaccine, but that does not give us permission to flout the SOPs. We are still wearing our masks and practising social distancing,” he said.
“Having said that, I don’t mind having to take the vaccine last because the rakyat can take it first. However, since we are on the list, we (had) to take it.”
He stressed that it is important for people to register for inoculation.
He also urged the federal government to extend vaccine administration to members of city councils.
“They are on the field every day and exposed to the risk,” he said. “Even the (councillors) in the office, they are in contact with hundreds of people.”
On Thursday, Penang recorded a whopping 337 new cases, with 265 involving non-Malaysians. On Friday, the state recorded 119 new cases, with 51 involving non-Malaysians.
Despite the numbers not significantly declining, Jagdeep believes it is still possible for the state to achieve green-zone status with the help of industries and government agencies, and strict compliance from the people. – The Vibes, March 7, 2021
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