THE state government is intensifying its effort in educating the public on the coronavirus (Covid-19) which has been declared pandemic by the World Health Organisation (WHO).
State Local Government, Housing, Town and Country Planning Committee chairman Jagdeep Singh Deo said LED screens at nine locations on the island and four locations on the mainland would be displaying information concerning the preventive measures to be taken to prevent the spread of the disease.
The nine locations on the island are GAMA supermarket, Komtar (tunnel), Simpang Enam (car park), Jalam Anson/Jalan Burma, Jalan Burma (Penang Plaza), ICT Komtar (wall), PICC at Jalan Tun Dr Awang, Jalan Datuk Keramat/Jalan Perak and, Komtar-Jalan Ria.
On the mainland, the LEDs are displayed in Bandar Perda, Tambun Indah, Autocity and Bertam.
“All Penangites are urged to take up optimum safety measures to curb the outbreak such as taking care of one’s personal hygiene, refraining from being at crowded places, practising good etiquette when coughing, washing hands regularly, using hand sanitisers and many others.
“The state government gives priority to the people’s safety and will not take the people’s health matters lightly.
“Thus, we want to spread and increase the awareness among public in order to stop the prevalence of Covid-19,’’ said Jagdeep during a press conference held on March 14 at the Chowrasta Market.
The LED screen at the Chowrasta Market is also displaying the infographics on the outbreak.
Among those who attended the press conference were Penang Island City Council (MBPP) mayor Datuk Yew Tung Seang, Seberang Perai City Council (MBSP) mayor Datuk Rozali Mahmud, Komtar assemblyman Teh Lai Heng and MBPP councillors.
Jagdeep also shared that notices regarding the outbreak would be displayed at the state’s public housing schemes starting from today at their respective lobbies.
“We’ve a total of 49 public housing schemes with 14,867 residential units and 175 units of shop lots.
“Out of this, 27 schemes, with strata titles, consist of 12,383 residential units, ” he said.
“Both the local councils and the state Housing Department are doing their part in combating the outbreak,” Jagdeep added.
Rozali said MBSP had distributed a total of 22,700 face masks to its staff as well as distributed 166 hand sanitisers to all the council’s premises.
“The council had previously given out 4,546 notices to shopping complexes, supermarkets, restaurants, convenient stores at petrol stations, convenient stores, night markets, hawker centres and other businesses to prepare hand sanitisers at their premises.
“We have also sent notices to the Joint Management Committees and Management Committees in Seberang Perai to take the preventive measures,’’ Rozali said.
“Apart from that, MBSP has also printed some 5,000 copies of posters on the steps to observe in order to prevent from getting infected.
“We have also uploaded those posters on our website for the public to use,” Rozali said.
Yew said MBPP was using the social media platform to spread awareness to the public based on the advice received from the Health Ministry.
“We have been helping out the state government to conduct body temperature screenings of those who enter the state administrative offices in Komtar. They include the staff and the visitors,’’ Yew said.
Story by Tanushalini Moroter