GEORGE TOWN – Penang will moot a proposal for the health authorities to allow management corporations or strata committees of residential estates and buildings to access the list of residents and tenants who have tested positive for Covid-19.
Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow said that it was a fair suggestion and could help in the war against Covid-19.
He has asked state executive councillor Phee Boon Poh to look into the move with the help of the federal and state health authorities.
Elected representatives currently have access to lists of infected constituents, and they have donated food baskets to the affected while the state allocates oximeters to those under self-quarantine.
Some reps such as Pengkalan Kota assemblyman Daniel Gooi have volunteered to share their lists with the management corporations.
“Right now, the health authorities do not reveal the identities of those who have contracted the virus because of privacy issues,” said Gooi.
Chow said that the information reps have is on clusters in localities rather than on individuals.
“But if it can help in the fight, we hope the authorities can discuss this,” said Chow.
He was speaking after virtually launching a programme on prevention and early response in the strata community to fight Covid-19 here.
Among those present were state executive councillor Jagdeep Singh Deo, and Penang Island City Council president and Mayor Yew Tung Seang.
Penang island has one of the highest concentrations of apartment buildings due to its high density, with over 2,500 high-rise residential buildings, and over 300,000 parcels of housing here.
Chow said that as the fight against the virus progresses, residents in such units need to understand that the health authorities may need to monitor their neighbours who are stricken with the virus.
He said there would be movements to bring food and medical supplies such as oximeters, and they should not be alarmed, while strict preventative steps should also be enforced in the common areas shared by residents.
Chow also said that the health authorities have not furnished any statistics on the number of high-rise residents who have contracted Covid-19 in Penang.
Meanwhile, Yew revealed that in the first RTK-Ag testing run for MBPP staffers, out of the 2,496 tested, only 12 or 0.5% of them tested positive.
“This is good as it shows we are fit to serve and work. We will continue to conduct surveillance of our staffers,” said Yew. – The Vibes, October 2, 2021
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