THE Penang government will continue its efforts to flatten the Covid-19 outbreak curve.
Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow said the state would be distributing hand sanitisers, thermometers and other essential equipment to the relevant sectors, such as to stratified housing, and others.
“We will be distributing the equipment in the coming weeks. We are doing our best to obtain supply of face masks. We know that this is the main concern of the public. We will inform the public once we manage to get the supplies.
“Secondly, the Penang government is also looking after the ‘most vulnerable group’ in our state.
“The state had announced the RM20 million allocation to assist this group. I will be announcing the details in the next few days. The Penang government will first be looking into the needs of the frontliners.
“Thirdly, the state will be working on the plans to re-develop Penang, post-movement control order (MCO),” Chow told the public via Facebook Live on his Facebook page today.
He also mentioned the initiatives taken by the Penang government during the first week of the MCO.
“The state carried out short-term strategies to meet three main objectives – to flatten the Covid-19 infection curve, to empower and to protect our frontliners, and to ensure the success of the MCO through the ‘whole-of-government’ approach,” he said.
Among the initiatives taken were:
- A special task force, led by the State Secretary, to combat the Covid-19 outbreak.
- The ‘Penang Lawan Covid-19’ campaign to provide transparent, accurate and fast information about the Covid-19 outbreak to the public.
- The mobilisation of two local city councils – the Penang Island City Council and the Seberang Perai City Council – to assist in the MCO and to conduct disinfection works.
- The distribution of medical equipment to the frontliners to ensure that there are sufficient supplies to fight the Covid-19 outbreak.
Chow said that the Penang government had supplied surgical robes, beds, and pillows as requested by the Penang Hospital.
“We have also given out face masks to the frontliners yesterday (March 21). Hand sanitisers and thermometers will be distributed from time to time,” he said.
Chow thanked the frontliners, including the Malaysian Armed Forces, for their services.
“We hope that the public can take the situation very seriously. The deadly outbreak has claimed eight lives in Malaysia, as according to the Health Ministry yesterday (March 21).
“While I am grateful that there are no Covid-19 death cases in the state, the number of positive Covid-19 cases in Penang has reached 50 as of 4pm yesterday (March 21). The matter must be given due attention.
“The Penang government will not be complacent. All of us must be prepared to make sacrifices to fight the Covid-19 outbreak. Please cooperate and obey the MCO,” he said.
Story by Christopher Tan
Pix by Adleena Rahayu Ahmad Radzi
Video by Alissala Thian