GEORGE TOWN – The Penang government today announced that Selangor has agreed to lend the northern state 200,000 Covid-19 vaccine doses.
Penang Health, Agriculture, Agro-based Industry and Rural Development Committee chairman Dr Norlela Ariffin expressed her gratitude to Selangor Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Amirudin Shari, Selangor health exco Dr Siti Mariah Mahmud and the SelCare clinic for the doses’ approval and delivery.
“We hope that all Penangites will have received their first dose of the Covid-19 vaccine by the first week of September.
“As of today, 225,226 Penangites have yet to receive their first shot, with the majority of the unvaccinated population located in Seberang Prai Tengah (SPT) district.
“SPT, which is the epicentre of the spike in Covid-19 cases in Penang, has 76,000 people yet to receive their first dose, and another 75,000 to 80,000 workers at small factories yet to register with Pikas (Public-Private Partnership Industrial Covid-19 Immunisation Programme) under Miti (International Trade and Industry Ministry) have also not been vaccinated.”
Based on an analysis by mathematician David Benjamin Lim, a PhD holder from Stanford University, said Dr Norlela, factories and other workplaces have contributed 70% of infections in Penang since the third movement control order.
She proposed the setting up of private Covid-19 quarantine and low-risk treatment centres monitored by general practitioners, and home surveillance observations to reduce the state Health Department’s burden.
“Having private quarantine centres take patients, especially factory workers, in SPT will help reduce the spread of Covid-19 in the community and bring down the infectivity rate in Penang.” – Bernama, August 26, 2021
