EIGHTY-ONE people have been tested positive after undergoing the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test in a follow-up to their participation in the Penang Covid-19 screening (PSC-19) that was carried out at various centres in Penang island and Seberang Perai.
State Local Government, Housing, Town and County Planning Committee chairman Jagdeep Singh Deo said the 81 confirmed cases were from the total of 151 positive cases detected after 6,603 people took the RTK antigen test under the PSC-19 programme in the past two weeks.
Those found positive after taking RTK antigen test, which is a rapid test that can detect the virus in the body as quickly as 15 minutes, would be required to undergo the more accurate PSC test.
Jagdeep said so far, a total of 7,986 people have registered for PSC-19 screening since it began at the City Stadium on July 5.
Out of the 6,603 tested until to date, 6,452 were found to be negative and 151 positive.
“The programme is carried out free by the Penang state government. I appeal to Penangites to come forward to take advantage of it for everyone’s own good. It will continue until we reach 40,000 people.
“When there are positive cases detected, we can isolate the victims. This will help reduce the virus from spreading further,” Jagdeep told a press conference when he revisited City Stadium today as the site would be used again for PSC-19 screening tomorrow (July 23).
He also agreed with Penang Island City Council (MBPP) mayor Datuk Yew Tung Seang when the latter urged more people to register for vaccination under the National Covid-19 Immunisation Programme.
As of July 20, a total of 532,427 people (30% of the adult population) have received their first dose of vaccine in Penang while 1.1 million people have registered for vaccination.
In Malaysia, 10.3 million have received their first jab out of 19 million who have registered for vaccination.
“I want to reiterate that our priority is public health and safety. We’ve a record 199 deaths in Malaysia yesterday. This is not a record that we want. We have a lot of work to do and let us all work together to cut the chain of infection,” Jagdeep said.
The PSC-19 screening continues into the third week at six locations, namely Dewan Dato’ Haji Ismail Che’ Chik in Bakau Tua, Penaga (July 23), City Stadium (July 23), Bandar Putra Bertam multipurpose hall in Bertam (July 24), Taman Terubong Jaya Food and Market Complex car park in Paya Terubong (July 24), drive-thru programme at Batu Kawan Stadium in Simpang Ampat (July 25), Tanjung Bunga Food and Market Complex multipurpose hall (July 25).
He expects the participation of 2,000 people in all six locations.
For residents and individuals who wish to register for the screening, they can go to https://penangsaring.selangkah.my or through their respective assemblymen’s service centres.
Also present was Penang Northeast District police chief Assistant Commissioner Soffian Santong, who advised the public to take the standard operating procedures seriously.
On a separate matter, Jagdeep said the recently-formed Penang State Housing Board would be calling for request for proposal (RFP) document for their first project in Bukit Gedung in Bayan Baru.
The project, which is expected to start in December this year, will have 1,267 units out of which 253 units of 700sq ft are for low-cost (from RM42,000) and 1,014 units of 850sq ft (RM300,000).
Other than the housing units, there will be a total of 21 three-storey commercial units.
The Bukit Gedung project is one of the 10 projects that the Penang State Housing Board is targeting for affordable housing development, totalling 20,912 units.
The state has so far reached a total of 120,000 units as it eyes to build a total of 220,000 affordable units by 2030.
Story by K.H. Ong
Pix by Law Suun Ting