BUTTERWORTH: The Seberang Jaya market here has been ordered to close after three traders tested positive for Covid-19.
Seberang Prai City Council (MBSP) Mayor Datuk Rozali Mohamud said the closure will take effect from Friday (July 16) until either next Sunday (July 25) or another date yet to be determined.
“The Central Seberang Prai district health officers went to the market to carry out investigations and on-site surveillance before the closure notice was issued.
“The closure will enable health officers to continue to identify close contacts and facilitate sanitisation works.
"The closure involves some 255 traders at the market, including 12 MBSP workers.
“The MBSP workers who were stationed there will also be screened for Covid-19.
"MBSP urges all traders, workers and customers identified as close contacts to undergo swab tests to immediately present themselves at the Central Seberang Prai district health office or call 04-539 7884 for appointments," he said in a statement on Friday (July 16).
Rozali added that traders who intend to undergo swab tests can do so at any of the private clinics and inform the MBSP of their results for record and planning purposes.
"All traders are not allowed to operate until July 25 or a further date.
“I urge the traders involved to do their swab tests as soon as possible.
“An integrated operation involving MBSP, police and the Health Ministry would be mobilised to track down traders who were identified as close contacts and failed to go for swab tests,” he said.
Since March last year, several public markets including those at Taman Free School, Batu Maung, Jelutong and Perak Road on the island and in Penaga, Bagan Ajam, Bukit Mertajam, Chai Leng Park and Mak Mandin on the Penang mainland had been temporarily closed for disinfection after Covid-19 cases were detected.
On July 3, the Pulau Mutiara wholesale market at Gat Lebuh Macallum was ordered to close following Covid-19 cases involving its traders.