ONLY less than 1% of those who took part in the Penang Covid-19 mass screening (PSC-19) programme have been confirmed positive, state Local Government, Housing, Town and Country Planning Committee chairman Jagdeep Singh Deo said.
“Those who have been tested positive via the Covid-19 antigen test will be called again for a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test to confirm the results.
“We have screened 4,718 participants so far and 23 of them were found to be Covid-19 positive after the PCR test.
“A total of 6,135 people have registered for the PSC-19 programme as of today (July 18),” Jagdeep said after visiting the PSC-19 venue at the Dewan MPKK in Sungai Dua, Batu Uban (near Flat Hamna) today.
Jagdeep said the PSC-19 in Macallum, Pengkalan Kota, recorded the highest number of registrations totalling 1,366. Fifteen people had been found positive via the Covid-19 antigen test, and they were still awaiting the PCR test results.
“A total of 1,068 people registered for the PSC-19 programme at Flat Mak Mandin Hijau. Twenty seven people have been found positive via the Covid-19 antigen test, and they are still awaiting the PCR test results,” he said.
Jagdeep said the PSC-19 programme would continue to proceed at five more locations from July 23 to 25.
The venues are – Dewan Dato Haji Ismail Che Chik, Bakau Tua, Penaga (July 23); Dewan Serbaguna Bandar Putra Bertam (July 24); Taman Terubong Jaya food and market complex (July 24); Batu Kawan stadium (July 25); and Tanjung Bungah food and market complex parking space (July 25).
Meanwhile, Jagdeep urged the people not to take Covid-19 lightly.
“It is important for us to register ourselves to be vaccinated.
“Some 1.1 million people in Penang have registered themselves to be vaccinated.
“We need more people to register for the vaccination programme. We need some 1.4 million people to be vaccinated in Penang to achieve herd immunity,” he said.
Batu Uban assemblyman A. Kumaresan thanked the Penang government for holding the PSC-19 programme in Batu Uban today.
“This area is one of the Covid-19 hotspots. We had a few cases recently.
“There are many residents living in this area and most of them are working in the construction sector and as hawkers,” he said.
Penang Island City Council mayor Datuk Yew Tung Seang urged the people to obey the standard operating procedures to fight against Covid-19.
Story by Christopher Tan
Pix by Chan Kok Kuan