GEORGE TOWN: The Penang government has taken additional measures to ensure the people fully abide by the Movement Control Order (MCO), which has now reached 90 per cent compliance in the state.
Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow said beginning tomorrow, all business premises statewide would only be allowed to operate between 6am and 8pm.
He said this was agreed upon by the relevant authorities who attended Penang Security Special Committee meeting today, tasked to oversee the implementation of the MCO in the state as well as to strategise ways to make it a success.
“We have agreed that all essential business premises will only be allowed to operate between 6am and 8pm daily.
“These operating hours were decided based on the suitable operating hours routine for premises in Penang,” he said today.
Penang is the latest state to announce the restriction of business operation hours after the Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL), Pahang, Johor, and Selangor, among others.
Chow also said that the free CAT bus services for the Central Area Transit route would cease operation during the MCO period.
Yesterday, the state government had announced that the Rapid Penang bus services would be reduced by 70 per cent.
Meanwhile, Chow said the state government had managed to order six million face masks with priority to be given to frontliners and the needy after a successful sourcing and negotiation with a supplier.
He said the state would provide update on the supply of such essential items including thermometers and hand sanitisers from time to time.
“Today, we are distributing thousands of hand santisers and infra-red thermometers to our two city councils and our security teams at the frontlines.
“Even those with special needs and senior citizens who live alone are not forgotten by the state government as they are given food supply by our volunteers.,” he added.
Penang has to-date reported 66 Covid-19 cases with one death.
Of the total, the northeast district recorded 19 cases, southwest district (7), Seberang Prai Utara (9), Seberang Prai Tengah (22) and Sobering Prai Selatan (9).