ISOLATING and controlling the movement of foreign workers are among the additional measures put in place in Penang following the spike in Covid-19 cases in the state, said P. Ramasamy.

The deputy chief minister II said this was after Penang became the latest state to see all of its districts turn into red zones.

As of Tuesday, there were 1,218 active cases in the state.

“Although the conditional movement-control order has been lifted for Penang, measures such as isolation and control, especially in places where there are foreign workers, have been put in place.

“We have also (started classifying) zones in accordance with the number of cases, new places for screening and quarantine, and others to control the disease,” he told The Malaysian Insight.

The Perai assemblyman said although the state government may have started out on a good footing in terms of controlling the pandemic in the earlier phase, it had to adopt a more balanced view given the demands to open up the economy and the people’s suffering.

Even if cases have been on the rise, it is important for the state to remain confident when adopting various measures to control the spread, he said.

“I am not sure whether the upsurge in Covid-19 cases is due to a sudden spike, or whether it is due to the identification of new cases as a result of the screening process, especially of foreign workers. (This) remains to be seen.

“There may be new cases but the positive thing is that more screening and identification is being done.

“Maybe the sudden surge is indicative of better and more effective screening, a necessary phase to eventually control the disease,” he added.

However, he did not discount the possibility that the easing of restrictions and enforcement measures could have led to the increase in infections.

He hopes that the availability of vaccines will help boost people’s confidence in the management of the disease.

Penang Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow said recently more government-owned facilities will be converted into low-risk Covid-19 treatment centres.

This includes the Tapak Pesta fairground in Sg Nibong and the Balik Pulau sports complex.

Chow also said the spike in cases in the state is due to continuous screening conducted since December 9 on foreign workers at construction sites and factories. – January 7, 2021.