GEORGE TOWN: Penang police will not hesitate to seek the closure of premises or public spaces to ensure the people’s health and safety are maintained, warns state police chief Comm Datuk Mohd Shuhaily Mohd Zain.

       He added his officers will continue monitoring adherence to the standard operating procedures (SOP) at public areas until Sunday (Sept 19).

       “If there is a need, we will ask the state Health Department to close premises which might cause a Covid-19 cluster.

       “I will ask my men to record videos and take pictures as proof to show the relevant agencies including local authorities, and advise them if we should continue letting public places to stay open.

       “The cases are sporadic and we might not know the source.

       “I believe many people have taken the day off work on Friday (Sept 17) and planning for a long weekend,” he told a press conference after conducting an outreach programme and SOP compliance rate monitoring at three locations in Penang on Thursday (Sept 16).

       The three locations are Gurney Plaza, Miami Beach and Shamrock Beach.

       Comm Mohd Shuhaily reminded Penangites that the number of cases in the state was still high.

       “We are still at four-digit positive cases daily.

       “The number of brought-in-dead (BID) is also quite high and we recorded 29 BIDs this week itself.

       “Although many sectors have reopened, we must continue to adhere to the SOP.

       “I hope everyone is responsible by strictly following the SOP.”

       He added that Penang entered Phase Two of the National Recovery Plan on July 17.

       “However, all of a sudden, there was an influx of people last weekend.

       “We conducted checks at several hotspots today (Sept 16) and found that there was no overcrowding.

       “At the moment, we are taking the approach of giving advice first.

       “We can take action by issuing compound notices, but we understand that many people have been affected economically by the pandemic.

       “If the number of cases continues to increase, then we have to be very strict,” he said.

       He also urged cyclists to maintain physical distancing when carrying out recreational activities.

       On a separate matter, Comm Mohd Shuhaily said police will be giving out numbers to those who walk in to receive their jabs at vaccination centres (PPV) that are open to foreigners from Friday onwards.

       “If there are 500 doses at the PPV, we will issue 500 numbers.

       “Once the slots are filled, the rest should leave.

       “If they fail to do so, we will come in and enforce the law,” he said.

       Starting Friday, foreigners can walk in to four designated PPV from 2pm onwards every day.

       The four PPV are Setia SPICE Convention Centre on the island; Dewan Milenium, SP Arena and Dewan Sungai Bakap on the mainland.