Pulau Tikus assemblyman Chris Lee (right) observing health officers placing notices to temporarily close the market.
A TOTAL of 33 public markets, temporary hawker sites, temporary static hawkers and food complexes in Penang faced closure due to Covid-19 since the movement control order (MCO) started in March last year.
State housing, local government, town and country planning committee chairman Jagdeep Singh Deo said this figure involved 16 on the island and 17 on the mainland.
“The markets are a source of income for many traders and provide food for the community.
“If there are Covid-19 cases detected within a market, it would have to be closed for sanitisation and it is not easy to do so as many depend on it.
“Traders will be required to undergo screening and all need to test negative before they are allowed to resume business,” he said during a press conference at the Kuantan Road Market on Tuesday.
Jagdeep then urged the people to continue to upkeep compliance with standard operating procedures to ensure safety for all and for the markets to remain open.
“In Penang, we have 20,284 licensed hawkers and traders.
“So far, 91.8% of them on the island have been vaccinated while 92.7% on the mainland are fully vaccinated.
“Under Penang’s mass Covid-19 screening programme, this category will be prioritised,” he said.
Penang Island City Council mayor Datuk Yew Tung Seang who was present, said two markets on the island still remained closed due to Covid 19. They are Pulau Tikus Market and Kuantan Road Market.
“Both markets remain closed to enable tracing while everyone is screened.
“Those who tested positive are required to undergo treatment.
“We will continue working with the government to ensure RTK-Antigen test kits remain affordable for all to be screened regularly,” he said.
