Screening for Gugusan Semarak folk under EMCO


Health personnel preparing to enter the Gugusan Semarak flats in Kota Damansara. A census to get the exact number of residents and food aid distribution was carried out on the first day of the enhanced MCO at the site. — GLENN GUAN/The Star

AN exercise to inoculate residents against Covid-19 will be conducted at Gugusan Semarak in Petaling Jaya after the screening process is completed, says Petaling district officer Datuk Johary Anuar.

Gugusan Semarak in Kota Damansara, comprising 13 blocks of five-storey flats with 1,040 units, is under an enhanced movement control order until Aug 19. It came into effect yesterday.

“All adults aged 18 and above who test negative for Covid-19 will be vaccinated, both Malaysians and non-Malaysians,” said Johary, revealing that Gugusan Semarak has about 5,200 residents.

“Those who have not been vaccinated will get their first dose. Those who are scheduled to get their second dose during the two-week enhanced MCO period will be given their second dose on-site.

“Only those who have appointments for AstraZeneca vaccinations will be allowed to leave the flats for their vaccination.”

Selangor was the first state in Malaysia to conduct a vaccination programme for residents living in areas under enhanced MCO. This started early last month in Mentari Court, Petaling Jaya.

“The first day of the enhanced MCO will see a census exercise to get the exact number of residents. Then we will distribute food aid sponsored by Selangor government through Kumpulan Perangsang Selangor Bhd,” said Johary.

“This will be followed with a screening of residents (to check on their Covid-19 status) for about three days, starting from today. Only those who test negative will be vaccinated.”

He said there would be a medical bay on-site to treat Covid-19 cases.

“Petaling District Health Office will manage all health matters in the area.”

At an earlier press conference, Johary said about 60% of Gugusan Semarak residents are Malaysians, most of whom are from the B40 group.

“Gugusan Semarak has recorded 350 Covid-19 cases since early this year,” he said.

“Overall, the PJU 5 area in Kota Damansara has seen a large increase in Covid-19 cases, with 4,432 recorded so far.

“It is also among the 10 localities with the highest Covid-19 cases in the Petaling district,” he added.

Kota Damansara assemblyman Shatiri Mansor said his office was ready to provide food aid.

“My house has been converted to include a food bank, so we have sufficient stock available,” he said.

“There are people on duty around the clock. I just need to call ahead to get the food aid ready. We also have milk powder and diapers for those who need them.”

Before the enhanced MCO started, Shatiri said he delivered food aid to about 100 families in Gugusan Semarak who had tested positive or were under quarantine due to Covid-19.

“The food aid comprised both fresh food and dried goods. In fact, the last basket was sent at 6pm on the eve of the enhanced MCO.

“In addition, we arranged for a sanitisation exercise to be carried out at Gugusan Semarak yesterday. But we had to postpone it since it clashed with the first day of the enhanced MCO.”

Shatiri added that the secretariat at Gugusan Semarak would be improving the process of handling delivery items to reduce contact between delivery riders and Welfare Department officers coordinating the deliveries.

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