THE food complex and pork section at the Bagan Ajam Market will remain closed until May 27 after the whole premises was shuttered on May 12 by the Health Ministry following a Covid-19 cluster (Jalan Terbilang) detected at the said premises.
This was announced by Seberang Perai City Council (MBSP) mayor Datuk Rozali Mohamud via a press statement today.
Rozali said the decision was made after a meeting was held this morning. It was attended by state Welfare and Environment Committee chairman Phee Boon Poh, district health officer Dr Suhaimi Samsudin, police representative, and council’s department heads and other relevant authorities.
“The MBSP has decided not to allow the business operation at the Bagan Ajam Market’s food complex and pork section to resume as eight new cases have been reported here today.
“Moreover, another 17 traders have yet to perform the Covid-19 screening test despite being urged to do so by the north Seberang Perai district health office.
Earlier, during a visit to the Bagan Ajam Market, Rozali said the wet market section at the Bagan Ajam Market is still open and MBSP would deploy more frontliners at the market to monitor the standard operating procedures (SOPs).
“We will continue to monitor public markets, morning markets, agro-based markets, weekly markets, night markets and food complexes to ensure that the traders and visitors adhere to the SOPs.
“We would take stern action against those who do not comply with the SOPs,’’ added Rozali while urging market-goers to opt for ‘online purchasing’ instead of visiting markets for the sake of public safety.
Meanwhile, state Local Government, Housing, Town and Country Planning Committee chairman Jagdeep Singh Deo, who was also present, said the state government was taking SOP guidelines seriously.
“I would like to reaffirm here that the state government will not compromise on public health and safety. We would take stern action if anyone is found to be flouting the SOPs.
“Another thing is that I was informed that the Health Ministry (MOH) director general Datuk Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah came to Kepala Batas to launch a new ICU unit since our hospitals in Penang has reached its capacity.
“I am not trying to create panic among the community, but this is the reality. We need everyone’s corporation to win this battle together,’’ said Jagdeep.
Jagdeep also said a total of 200 medical practitioners from the PMPS (Penang Medical Practitioners’ Society) were ready to assist the state and Federal governments with the vaccination programme once they have obtained the approval from the MOH.
“By collaborating with the private medical sectors in Penang, we are also conducting a study to use the deep-throat saliva test (DTS) as a replacement for the current Covid-19 swab test (throat and nose) which seems to cause a painful experience for those who are taking it,’’ added Jagdeep.
Story by Tanushalini Moroter
Pix by Chan Kok Kuan