THE Covid-19 workplace cluster cases in Penang are on the decline, says state Health Department senior chief assistant director Dr S. Gunenthira Rao.
“During the middle of this year, the workplace cluster was the main contributor to the number of Covid-19 cases in Penang. But now, the number of cases under this cluster is abating.
“In fact, Penang has recorded zero number of cases under the Covid-19 workplace cluster last week.
“Thus, we must keep working together to ensure that there are no new emergences of the Covid-19 work cluster in Penang,’’ Dr Gunenthira said during a webinar on the best practices and procedures adopted by the MNC companies in Penang yesterday.
According to Dr Gunenthira, most of the Covid-19 cases reported as of now, consist of patients categorised under Category One and Two.
“Thanks to the Covid-19 vaccination, it has helped to reduce complications among patients who have contracted the virus.
“There are fewer number of cases recorded involving patients under Category Three, Four and Five.
“These individuals could be those who are unvaccinated or partially vaccinated,’’ Dr Gunenthira added.
State Entrepreneurial Development, Trade, and Industry Committee chairman Datuk Abdul Halim Hussain, who attended the sharing session as well, said the state government has taken the initiative to set up the Covid-19 Employee Health & Safety Industry Advisory Group.
Abdul Halim said the group was formed to control the spread of the virus among the industrial workers by creating a network with the employees as well as the health and safety experts.
“It will help to gather knowledge and opinion from the manufacturing industry in Penang on Covid-19 related issues, and to provide expertise support for companies in the manufacturing and supply chain industry.
“It will also serve as a channel of communication and consultation between the state authorities and companies with regard to the Covid-19 best practices control plan procedures.
“These Covid-19 best practices and control plan procedures are not only meant for the state’s industry, but they can be applied for all the small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Malaysia,’’ Abdul Halim said.
Abdul Halim also said that the usage of beds at the Intensive Care Units (ICU) is currently being reduced and it is in a manageable state.
“With the interstate travel being allowed, we are looking forward to normalcy, in terms of business operations of all sectors.
“As we are moving towards the endemic phase, let us always adhere to the standard operating procedures (SOPs) and stay vigilant,’’ he added.
One of the speakers, Balram Vadivello (NI Malaysia facilities manager), shared the Safe Work Bubble with Digital Proximity Tracker & Tracing System. The system helps to reduce cross-area contacts, internal transmission, and to keep employees in a safe distance from each other.
Other speakers included Intel Malaysia EHS director Tan Joo Sum, ams Osram senior EHS manager Mohamad A’Azizan Mustafa, and Motorola Solutions managing director Solomon Lorthu.
Story by Tanushalini Moroter
Pix by Alissala Thian