THE public markets in Taman Bagan and Permatang Tinggi on the mainland have been ordered to close today until Sept 6 following the detection of three Covid-19 cases among its traders and workers.
According to state Local Government, Housing, Town and Country Planning Committee chairman Jagdeep Singh Deo, who visited the market in Taman Bagan today, said the closure involves 39 stalls.
“When the standard operating procedures (SOPs) are flouted, this is what happens.
“In the event of any new Covid-19 cases among traders or hawkers in public markets or food complexes, the local councils will not compromise and stern action will be taken.
“Today is another good example of it. Let us wake up and not take things too lightly.
“Things are not getting any better for us at the moment. It is important we stay vigilant and not flout the SOPs to curb further spread of the infections,” Jagdeep said when he visited the market in Taman Bagan today.
Meanwhile, the closure of the market in Permatang Tinggi involves 27 stalls.
It was learnt that apart from these two premises (Taman Bagan and Permatang Tinggi), another market in Kampung Baru in the central Seberang Perai district was closed since Aug 30 and will reopen tomorrow (Sept 5).
The market has a total of 283 stalls and three cases were detected among its traders and workers.
Jagdeep then added that so far, a total 26 markets, temporary hawker stalls and food complexes under both the Penang Island City Council (MBPP) and Seberang Perai City Council (MBSP), were previously closed and are now open.
“Out of that number, 11 were from MBPP and 15 from MBSP. Two markets from that list were ordered to close twice,” he added.
Meanwhile, MBSP mayor Datuk Rozali Mohamud said he is concerned after learning that some 1,800 traders and hawkers failed to participate in the Community Vaccine Mobilisation (Movak) programme that ended on Sept 2.
“The ones who missed out were mostly unlicenced traders and hawkers. That was why we were not able to trace them or their records.
“It could be that they have stopped operating their businesses or are already vaccinated,” he said.
The programme garnered positive response after receiving 17,314 registrations from traders and hawkers.
However, as mentioned previously by Jagdeep, the state government had only allocated 11,000 doses of Covid-19 vaccine for this programme.
“We will see how we can accommodate the overwhelming response by bringing this matter up to the Federal Government to probably initiate a second round of the Movak programme,” Jagdeep added.
Story by Kevin Vimal
Pix by Noor Siti Nabilah Noorazis