THERE is a need to tighten checks on the MySejahtera application status of individuals at all premises, especially supermarkets, to ensure those placed under the home supervision order do not gain entry.

Health Minister Khairy Jamaluddin said his ministry had detected non-compliance as there were still individuals found checking-in at supermarkets despite being on quarantine.

“In Kedah, for instance, in just one week, there were 523 MySejahtera check-ins (to premises) by Covid-19-positive or high-risk individuals who were placed under home quarantine.

“A total of 18% of the (523) check-ins occurred in supermarkets. We are asking that supervision at entrances be tightened as security guards are not checking their MySejahtera status properly… they are just letting them in,” he told a media conference in conjunction with his working visit to Kedah at Wisma Darul Aman in Alor Star today.

Meanwhile, on the vaccination status in the state, Khairy said his ministry had asked for efforts to be intensified. 

Attention should be given to residents in several districts which still recorded low vaccination rates, such as in Pendang and Baling, he said.

“We need the cooperation of community leaders to ensure those who still refuse to be vaccinated to come forward. We seek the enforcement of the standard operating procedure for vaccination to be tightened. For example, the mosque committee must check thoroughly (before allowing congregants to enter),” he said.

He said his ministry had also asked all employers to tighten procedures at workplaces by allowing only fully vaccinated individuals to return to work.

Khairy added that, for now, the supply of vaccines at every vaccination centre in Kedah was more than sufficient.

“In a lot of areas, there are more vaccines doses than recipients. So we have to reach out and focus on the hardcore (anti-vaccine) group,” he said.

The minister also said that more than 180,000 teenagers in Kedah would begin receiving their vaccine shots from tomorrow at the vaccination centres or at schools.

The ministry expects the process to be completed within a month. – Bernama, September 19, 2021.