BUTTERWORTH: Following a rise in Covid-19 cases in the Bagan parliamentary constituency, the Seberang Prai City Council (MBSP) has ordered hawkers and traders at the Jalan Bunga Raya Hawker Complex and the Apollo morning market to temporarily cease operations.
MBSP Mayor Datuk Rozali Mohamud said both the hawker complex and morning market had been told to stop operations for a week from tomorrow until Aug 5, or otherwise told.
"This is part of an early precautionary measure to stop the spread of Covid-19 among the hawkers, traders and their workers as well as customers.
"Nevertheless, the order is subjected to further order by the Seberang Prai Utara (SPU) district health office.
"The closure affect 184 hawkers and traders — 112 hawkers at the hawker complex and 72 traders at the morning market," he said.
Rozali also urged all affected hawkers and traders to go for Covid-19 screening through the district health office, private clinics or through the ongoing Penang Covid-19 Screening (PSC-19) programme.
"We want to remind all hawkers, traders and their workers, who are currently under the supervision of the Health Ministry and have yet to complete their quarantine, that they are not allowed to carry out any business activities to prevent action from being taken against them.
"Also, we will not allow any hawkers and traders who have not been swabbed to resume business when the hawker complex and morning market are allowed to operate after the closure.
"Only those who tested negative as well as those who completed their quarantine are allowed to do business again," he added.
Rozali also urged everyone to observe the standard operating procedures (SOP) put in place at all times to stop the spread of Covid-19.
Yesterday, Penang reported a record 760 positive Covid-19 cases, the highest since the pandemic hit in March last year.
The latest figure brings the total cumulative cases in the state to 43,877 of which 3,210 are active cases.
Meanwhile, there have been 169 coronavirus related deaths in Penang.