A TOTAL of 12,709 foreign construction workers have undergone Covid-19 screening while the remaining 492 are waiting to be tested in Penang.
State Local Government, Housing, Town and Country Planning Committee chairman Jagdeep Singh Deo said the total number of documented foreign construction workers on the island and mainland is 13,201.
“From this figure, 96.2% or 12,709 have been tested for Covid-19. This is such a good news for us since we began mass Covid-19 screening of foreign workers on May 14.
“It is also in line with the compulsory requirement by the Federal Government that all foreign construction workers must undergo Covid-19 screening before going back to work,” Jagdeep told reporters after checking on a temporary Covid-19 screening test site for construction workers at Padang Polo in George Town today.
Also present were Penang Island City Council (MBPP) mayor Datuk Yew Tung Seang and Seberang Perai City Council (MBSP) mayor Datuk Rozali Mohamud.
Jagdeep also announced that today is the last day for a temporary Covid-19 screening test site at Padang Polo to continue operation after being up and running for one month since May 14.
“Currently, we are in the process of getting the results from the Covid-19 screening.
“As of today, 60.81% or 4,123 from 6,780 foreign construction workers on the island are tested negative while on the mainland, 80% or 4,878 from 6,421 are tested negative from contracting the virus.
“We are glad that all the Covid-19 results that we have received so far are negative and hopefully this will continue the same for the pending results,” he added.
He also encouraged foreign workers in other sectors to undergo Covid-19 screening as well.
“Although Covid-19 screening test is compulsory for foreign construction workers only, we strongly advise foreign workers in other sectors to undergo the test as well for their own benefit,” he said.
Jagdeep was also pleased to note that the compliance rates among the premises that are allowed to operate since the beginning of the movement control order (MCO) until now are getting better each day.
“As of today (June 11), a total of 161,421 and 260,474 premises have been checked by MBPP and MBSP respectively.
“The compliance rates stand at 99.66% on the island and 99.22% on the mainland.
“Both local councils would continue to monitor each premises in the state to ensure compliance with the standard operating procedures (SOPs) during the recovery movement control order (RMCO).
“I also urge all Penangites to not get too complacent as our fight against Covid-19 is not over yet.
“We should continue to be vigilant and keep practising preventive measures to curb the spread of the virus,” he added.
Story by Riadz Akmal
Pix by Adleena Rahayu Ahmad Radzi