GEORGE TOWN: The Batu Lanchang market has been ordered to close once again after several traders and workers were infected with Covid-19.
The closure, effective 9.15am today until a date to be announced later, involved some 180 stalls.
The market had just reopened on Aug 18 after it was ordered to be closed on July 29 due to seven positive Covid-19 cases reported there.
According to a statement from the Penang Island City Council (MBPP), the closure was to facilitate sanitisation and disinfection works.
"Besides that, the MBPP and the state Health Department will also conduct Covid-19 risk assessments at the market," it said today.
Meanwhile, to stop the spread of Covid-19, MBPP said traders at the Astaka Bukit Gedung had taken it upon themselves to temporarily halt business for a week beginning today.
The closure, it added, would involve some 49 stalls there.
Astaka Bukit Gedung will resume business on Sept 10.
"The people are reminded to adhere to the standard operating procedures (SOP) set at all times to prevent them from being infected with Covid-19, especially among the community.
"Market associations and food complexes are advised to implement proper crowd control at all times.
"High-risk individuals, indicated in the MySejahtera app, will not be allowed into the markets and food complexes," it said.
It also warned that stern action, including closure of premises, would be taken against premises which failed to adhere to the SOPs.
Penang has been reporting consistent four digit Covid-19 positive cases in recent weeks.
The highest number of cases the state ever witnessed since the pandemic struck some 20 months ago was on last Saturday (Aug 28) where Penang recorded 2,078 cases.
Yesterday, Penang recorded 1,600 Covid-19 cases, bringing the cumulative number of cases to 89,853 infections.
The state also recorded 39 deaths yesterday, bringing the cumulative number of deaths to 615.
Several markets statewide have been ordered to close following positive Covid-19 cases involving traders.
Among them was the Padang Tembak market which was ordered to be closed yesterday after Covid-19 cases were reported among traders there.
Others include the Seberang Jaya Market, the Mak Mandin market, Pulau Mutiara wholesale market, Chai Leng Park market, Jalan Perak market and Bukit Mertajam market.