MBPP enforces fortnightly RTK-Ag tests for council staff, construction sites

GEORGE TOWN – In a bid to rein in the spread of Covid-19, the Penang Island City Council (MBPP) has decided to implement fortnightly Covid-19 testing on all its staff and on all workers at construction sites on the island.

This comes following MBPP’s meeting with the representatives of the Free Industrial Zone, Penang, Companies’ Association to discuss issues concerning the pandemic.

Mayor Datuk Yew Tung Seang said this new practice is in line with the “three T’s” policy, which is to test, trace, and treat.

“Our MBPP staff and frontliners, including those who have to come to the office to work, will have to undergo the RTK-Ag test every two weeks.

“This good practice will also be introduced to all construction sites.

“We will be enforcing it, and all construction sites will have to submit their weekly report (on the tests) to us,” he said at a press conference after tabling the 2022 budget for the council today, 

Yew said that factories have implemented this testing practice for quite some time, with employers requiring all workers and even vendors to show negative results before they are allowed into the premises.

The council has also budgeted RM500,000 for the purpose of curbing the spread of Covid-19, and ensuring the health and safety of its workforce in 2022.

It will also introduce a “Lawan Covid-19” squad for all apartments on the island to help management bodies and committees to better handle Covid-19.

“Capacity-building through community empowerment is very important and is more effective in curbing the spread of Covid-19,” he said.

“Therefore, the council launched the ‘Train the Trainers’ programme and created the Community Covid Fighting Squad at the PPR flats at Jalan Sungai in September 2021.

“Community leaders were trained on the management of Covid-19 for confirmed positive patients, close contacts, and symptomatic individuals, as well as methods of conducting self-screening,” he said.

Although the number of vaccinated individuals in Penang is high, he advised everyone to continue being vigilant as more than 40% of those who are positive, as of yesterday, are those who have completed their vaccinations. – The Vibes, September 23, 2021