BUKIT MERTAJAM: Penang has appealed to the Health Ministry for more assistance in its fight against rising Covid-19 cases.

       Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow said the state was in need of additional facilities such as Covid-19 Assessment Centres (CACs), quarantine centres, and low-risk quarantine and treatment centres (PKRC).

       “These facilities need immediate attention to keep the public health situation under control,” he said.

       Together with the state Health Department, he said they would work together to provide all necessary assistance for the facilities.

       “We’ve proposed to prepare additional facilities such as CACs, quarantine centres and PKRC besides ensuring sufficient medical equipment at hospitals run by the ministry.

       “These facilities are important to Penang as rising cases here are putting a stress on medical facilities and services.

       “We have requested the ministry assist Penang for additional placements, especially for human resources,” he said after visiting the MBSP Sports Complex in Jalan Betek, which has started operating as a Covid-19 sampling centre.

       Chow said the state-owned complex would handle the surge of people wanting to undergo swab tests, or the issuing or removal of the pink quarantine bands which was previously done at the district health clinic in Berapit.

       The sampling centre, which can handle 600 people daily, will be opened for three months until December.

       Central Seberang Prai district health officer Dr Suraya Idris, who was also present, said swab tests and the issuance of pink wristbands for those who were close contacts or confirmed to be infected with Covid-19, would start from 9am to 1pm, while removal of the wristbands would be done from 4pm to 6pm.

       “The centre previously operated at the district health clinic in Berapit, but was relocated due to traffic congestion in the area,” she added.