GEORGE TOWN: More than 1,000 people from six state constituencies here will form the first batch to undergo the targeted Covid-19 mass screening programme in the community, or Penang Covid-19 Screening (PSC-19), beginning Monday.
State Local Government Committee chairman Jagdeep Singh Deo said the mass screening would be carried out at the Penang City Stadium involving the state constituencies of Padang Kota, Datuk Keramat, Sungai Pinang, Pulau Tikus, Pengkalan Kota and Batu Lancang.
"Through PSC-19, we aim to screen some 40,000 individuals, 1,000 each from each of the 40 state constituencies, for free in efforts to stem the spread of Covid-19.
"Besides the Penang City Stadium, several locations in all five districts have been identified as screening centres. For the targeted group who wants to undergo the mass screening, all they need to do is register at the service centres of their respective elected representative," he said after a tour at the PSC-19 screening centre at the Penang City Stadium here today.
The PSC-19 programme, fully financed by the Penang government, will use the RTK-Antigent method. Those who undergo screening will be advised to return home right after the test. Results will be updated within two hours.
For those who test positive, they will have to return to take the PCR test.
The state government has set aside RM3 million for the mass screening programme.
Jagdeep said the mass screening programme would take between 30 and 40 days to complete.
"At the Penang City Stadium, we will have about 20 medical officers stationed here, who will be supervised by six doctors," he added.
Meanwhile, on a separate development, Jagdeep said more than one million people in Penang have registered for the Covid-19 vaccination.
"This is a positive development as more and more people are coming forward to register for vaccination.
"However, at this point in time, only about 17 per cent have received at least the first dose. As such, we hope that the number of those vaccinated will also pick up in line with the number of those who registered," he added.