SOME 1,000 individuals from six constituencies on the island will be participating on the opening day of the Penang Covid-19 mass screening (PSC-19) at the City Stadium on July 5.
State Local Government, Housing, Town and Country Planning Committee chairman Jagdeep Singh said they would be from Padang Kota, Pengkalan Kota, Datok Keramat, Sungai Pinang, Batu Lancang and Pulau Tikus.
He added that the programme would involve a team of 20 medical personnel from the state Health Department.
The first phase screening is from July 5 to 18
“Twenty medical personnel comprising six doctors, eight medical assistants and six lab assistants will be present to conduct the screening.
“Initially we wanted to start off with four constituencies – Padang Kota, Datok Keramat, Sungai Pinang and Pulau Tikus – but the state Health Department requested us to add in another two constituencies, which are the Pengkalan Kota and Batu Lancang.
“We will make sure that the programme takes place in a balanced manner on both the island and mainland.
“The screening programme at other constituencies will take place soon at different venues,’’ said Jagdeep during his visit to the screening centre at City Stadium this morning.
Jagdeep said the participants would be undergoing the Covid-19 antigen test first, and if they are tested positive then they would be called for the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test.
“While we wait for the community to be vaccinated, we can conduct the screening for those who is yet to receive the vaccines.
“This will help us to separate those who are infected so that we can help reduce the spread of the disease.
“Both screening and vaccines are equally important,” said Jagdeep, who also revealed that nearly 600,000 doses of vaccines are expected to arrive in Penang soon.
Jagdeep, who is also the Datok Keramat assemblyman, called upon the public to come forward and register for the screening.
“The programme is still open for registration, so please contact your respective service centres to register. The target for each constituency is 1,000 individuals,’’ said Jagdeep.
Story by Tanushalini Moroter
Pix courtesy of YB Jagdeep’s office