GEORGE TOWN: The recent surge in Covid-19 cases in Penang has seen healthcare facilities and the low-risk treatment centre (PKRC) recording about 50 per cent admission.
Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow said, although the situation was still manageable, the state government will continue to keep an eye on the situation.
He said standby facilities would be activated should the need arise.
"As I announced earlier, the state government will make preparations to ensure that our facilities are sufficient to cater to the increase in Covid-19 cases.
"Based on the state Health Department's statistics, more than 90 per cent of the Covid-19 cases in the state are in Category One and Category Two. So, healthcare facilities and PKRC's admissions are still manageable...probably reach about 50 per cent," he told newsmen here today.
He was met after the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MoU) between MTT Properties and Development Sdn Bhd (MTTPSB) and Selgate Properties Sdn Bhd (SPSB) to develop a private specialist hospital at the Botanica.CT township in Balik Pulau.
Penang has been logging consistent four digit Covid-19 cases in recent days, with 2,142 cases on Wednesday, bringing the cumulative cases to 184,496. Of the total, 10,267 are active cases.
Since the start of the pandemic in March 2020, the state has reported 1,792 Covid-19 fatalities.
Chow also urged parents to allow their children to be vaccinated under the ongoing Covid-19 National Immunisation Programme for Children (PICKids) so that their young ones would be better protected.
The chief minister had made similar appeal to those qualified to be vaccinated with the booster shots, to do so as soon as they were allowed to do so, either through the MySejahtera application or walk-in.
"This will grant us additional protection from the earlier two doses," he added.
On whether Penang would enforce any restrictions following the surge in Covid-19 cases, including the allowance for Ramadan bazaars to operate during the upcoming fasting month, Chow said the health authority had made the announcement that the Ramadan bazaar would be allowed this year.
"At the time of the announcement, of course (the Covid-19 situation) will continue to change. I believe the Health Ministry will have to assess the situation from a day-to-day basis to see whether the decision should remain or otherwise," he said.