KUALA LUMPUR: The authorities are expected to conduct Covid-19 screening on around 15,000 people in neighbourhoods around the Selayang Wholesale Market after the areas were placed under the Enhanced Movement Control Order (EMCO) today.
Federal Territories Minister Tan Sri Annuar Musa said six testing stations will be set up in the EMCO area, divided into eight parcels.
Annuar, who is also the Federal Territories Security Working Committee chairman, said 500 medical personnel will be placed in the area to ensure that the tests run smoothly.
He said the tests are expected to take a week to complete.
“We expect to have between 1,500 to 2,000 residents tested for Covid-19 daily and hope to screen all the residents, numbering between 15,000 to 16,000, within a week.
“We have taken the necessary measures to ensure that the movement of people from their home to the testing centres is done in an orderly manner. There will be a limit of 50 people per batch, supervised by 10 policemen and three army personnel.
“Apart from the residents in the EMCO area, we are also discussing the possibility of testing lorry drivers who transport produce to the wholesale market,” he told a live press briefing via Facebook.
Senior Minister (Security) Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob had earlier announced that eight residential parcels around the Selayang Wholesale Market have been placed under the EMCO beginning today until May 3.
Meanwhile, Annuar said each testing station would be equipped with a large waiting area to ensure that those awaiting to be tested, many of whom are foreign nationals, would practice social distancing.
Also on hand are two bathrooms and two mobile toilets for the convenience of the medical personnel, who can shower immediately after ending their shifts.
“I would like to inform the people around the Selayang Wholesale Market that there is nothing to fear, with regards to the presence of the authorities.
“This is only being done to break the Covid-19 infection chain in Kuala Lumpur and to ensure that the capital is free from the virus,” he said.