GEORGE TOWN: Business operators near Jalan Kolam Ikan in Bayan Lepas have expressed concern over the growing number of Covid-19 cases linked to the Bayan cluster.
As of yesterday, the cluster had logged 62 active cases.
Several operators, when approached by the New Straits Times, said they fear for their safety after seeing ambulances making their way into the residential area to ferry Covid-19 victims, comprising foreign workers, to hospital since last week.
They claim that last week, about two to three ambulances entered the residential area almost daily, as about 10 houses there are used as foreign worker hostels for a nearby factory.
An eatery operator, who only wanted to be known as Su, in her 40s, said she again saw at least two ambulances at the housing estate this morning, with health workers in full personal protective gear.
"I am sure they are here to pick up foreign workers who tested positive for Covid-19. They have been coming here often since last week.
"However, what baffles us is the lack of information from the relevant authorities. What we have now is merely based on 'coffee shop talk' by residents of the nearby village. With more than 30 active cases reported in this area alone, the authorities should be upfront with us and not keep us in the dark.
"What if there are more cases involving the foreign workers in coming days? What happens if we are put on 'lockdown'? As it is, my business has dropped by 50 per cent since the Bayan cluster was first announced. I dread to imagine what a lockdown will do to my business as well as other businesses here. We are just picking up the pieces after the Movement Control Order (MCO)," she said.
Nearly 200 foreign workers, staying at several houses in Jalan Kolam Ikan, have been home quarantined and affixed with pink wristbands as they are believed to be close contacts of positive cases.
They are expected to go for a second swab test later this week.
When the NST team was there earlier, we saw two ambulances entering Jalan Kolam Ikan.
The first ambulance took with it four men from two houses, while another took three men from another house.
Southwest district police chief Superintendent A.A. Anbalagan had confirmed last week that some 199 foreign factory workers had been fixed with the pink wristband and quarantined at home.
It is learnt that of the 199 factory workers, 87 are Nepalese men and 112 are Indonesian women.
Su said most of the foreign workers do not throng her eatery, maybe because her cooking is not to their liking.
"But prior to them being home quarantined, you could see them walking in and out in groups to buy necessities.
"Since the home quarantine we don't see them anymore," she said, adding that the fear is ever present but life has to go on.
On her part, Su said she has taken upon herself to ensure customers visiting her eatery adhere to strict standard operating procedures (SOP).
Another business operator, who spoke on condition of anonymity, also lamented the lack of information about the active cluster.
"It started from just two cases in the beginning, and within a short time, more than 60 people are infected with the virus.
"This is scary. But why is it we do not see any health worker or anyone from the state government coming to provide us with answers? he asked.
He also took a swipe at the authorities, asking if they would only make an appearance once the area is placed under lockdown.