By Ling Hui
KUCHING, Aug 7: As of Aug 3, only 19 of the 51 confirmed cases from the Pasar Stutong 2 Cluster were hawkers or stall operators from the Stutong Community Market itself.
Kuching South City Council (MBKS) mayor Dato Wee Hong Seng clarified the total of 51 cases as reported by the State Disaster Management Committee (SDMC) involved other related individuals tested positive for Covid-19 and were not limited to those working at the market.
According to the breakdown of cases provided by the Ministry of Health (KKM), he said about eight to 10 cases were contract cleaners on-duty at the market while a large group of positive cases were family members or close contacts of related individuals.
“So this is the actual breakdown of cases in the (Pasar) Stutong (2) Cluster after verification with KKM,” he said when assuring the public.
He reiterated that KKM has issued a letter to approve the reopening of the market on Aug 3 following the 14-day quarantine period and risk assessment by the authorities.
Stressing that Stutong Community Market is already safe to visit, Wee said all positive cases were quarantined and only those with negative results after their second Covid-19 swab tests were allowed to continue doing business.
“We also made sure that everyone operating at the market now tested negative in their latest swab tests, and not based on results from weeks or months ago,” he said during his Facebook livestream session today.
Meanwhile, he said hawkers at the market have requested for MBKS, within its jurisdictions, to also limit customers to those who have completed their two-dose vaccination since the operators themselves have done so.
Wee said this matter is currently in discussion as many teens and children under 18-yearsyold are still not eligible for the vaccination, but he said it was a matter of time for similar standard operating procedures (SOP) to be implemented. — DayakDaily
