GEORGE TOWN: The state-level Chinese New Year celebration 2022, scheduled for Feb 10, has been cancelled.

       Notification of the cancellation came in a letter from the state secretary's office on Tuesday (Feb 8).

       It stated this was due to concerns following a spike in Covid-19 cases in Penang.

       “Although the state government has planned and prepared for the event, the state has decided not proceed with the programme,” read the letter.

       In January, the Penang Information Department said the annual Chief Minister’s Chinese New Year open house would not be held for the second year in a row as the country had yet to fully emerge from the Covid-19 pandemic.

       On Tuesday, Penang’s daily Covid-19 cases shot up to 1,023 compared to 693 on Monday (Feb 7).