FOLLOWING the rising cases of Covid-19 in the last few days in Seberang Perai, especially in the central district, many business premises have started to be more vigilant and extra cautious by complying with strict standard operating procedures (SOPs).
Buletin Mutiara visited many places today such as wet markets, shopping malls, hawker centre, roadside stalls and food courts in Permatang Pauh and Bukit Mertajam areas which fall under the central district to get an overview of the situation.
From observation, the majority of the market-goers and traders were complying with the SOP accordingly. They distanced themselves from one another at a metre or so apart when queuing up or purchasing groceries and necessary items.
Markers also have been placed on the floor to remind people to practise physical distancing.
The majority of them also could be seen wearing face masks all the time which has been already made compulsory by the Federal Government.
A food stall owner, Muhamad Ridzuan Bahari, 35, said he always reminded his customers to always follow the SOPs.
“If I see that my customers do not comply with SOPs such as failing to wear a face mask, I will not allow them to enter my premises.
“Sometimes, I will also give them free face mask if they forget to bring theirs.
“My premises also provide a cashless payment method for our customers to reduce physical interaction.
“After all, we must remember that in order to win the fight against Covid-19, each one of us must play our part and not just leave it to the authority. We are in this together,” he said.
Customer service executive Nur Azwina Shah Bodin, 28, said she have started limiting her movement and cutting down on dine-ins since the rise of Covid-19 cases in Penang.
“Although I notice that the majority of the people are abiding by the SOPs, such as wearing face mask whenever they are in public places, I think that with the re-emergence of Covid-19 cases in Penang, it is best to limit my movement and only go out when necessary.
“After all, based from what I read from the newspapers, the majority of Covid-19 cases in the country are asymptomatic carriers. They don’t develop any symptoms but can transmit the virus easily without us knowing about it. This is even more dangerous,” she said.
Seberang Perai City Council (MBSP) councillor Fahmi Zainol said the city council has initiated an Immediate Action Plan that contains 13 resolutions to counter the Covid-19 threat.
“Among the resolutions are by deploying more MBSP enforcement officers to conduct regular patrols on locations that are considered as high risk areas.
“As a result until today, we could see that the majority of business premises are strictly complying with the SOPs to curb the spread of Covid-19.
“Although there are some traders who did not follow the SOPs, we will advise them first before we proceed by taking stern actions. We will not tolerate the violators.
“This shows that the city council is very serious in our efforts to break the chain of the Covid-19 viral infections.
“Thus, I urge everyone to follow the SOP, like maintaining physical distancing and wearing face mask when going outside, to make sure that the SPT (central Seberang Perai) and other districts in Penang can be free from Covid-19 cases once again,” he told Buletin Mutiara when contacted today.
Story by Riadz Akmal
Pix by Ahmad Adil Muhamad