THE Penang government supports the call for the National Security Council (MKN) to consider the performance of each state (in terms of their respective threshold values) when making the decision whether to move to Phase Two of the National Recovery Plan.
Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow said the threshold value of each state should be given due consideration, instead of deciding based on the national threshold value.
“The view is that it should be based on the population of each state in determining the threshold value of the Covid-19 cases, rather than based on the number of infections at national rate as at present.
“This is because each state has different infection rates which require special consideration in determining further strategies to be implemented,” he delivered his message via Facebook Live today.
Chow said he had voiced his support for the proposal during the Technical Committee special meeting on Covid-19 management last Sunday (June 27).
“The Penang executive council (exco), in a meeting today, also expressed its approval for MKN to consider the performance of each state (in terms of their respective threshold values) when making the decision whether to move to Phase Two of the National Recovery Plan.
“The people will still have to abide by the standard operating procedures (SOPs) even after the state(s) successfully move to the next and subsequent phases,” he said, adding that enforcements would also have to be continued.
Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin had stated that the Phase One of the National Recovery Plan would continue until the threshold value of below 4,000 cases is reached, cases in the intensive care unit have dropped from the critical level and vaccinations have increased.
On a separate note, Chow said that Penang was informed that it would be receiving 591,532 doses of vaccines in July under the National Covid-19 Immunisation Programme (NIP).
“A total of 131,255 doses are expected to arrive from July 5 to 10; while from July 11 to 16 (136,506 doses); July 17 to 22 (130,150 doses); and July 23 to 28 (193,621 doses).
“The Penang government will plan carefully to ensure that the people receive their Covid-19 vaccine.
“We strive to achieve three targets – 10 percent of the population to receive two doses of vaccine each; to provide vaccine to senior citizen aged 60 and above as well as those with morbidity problems who have registered but have not receive their vaccination; and to begin providing vaccine to those below aged 60 who have registered.
“I have always stressed that we must practise the three ‘T’s to win this war against Covid-19. They are mass testing, tracing, and treatment,” he said.
Story by Christopher Tan
Pix by Muhamad Amir Irsyad Omar
Live video by Ahmad Adil Muhamad