SIBU, July 18: Sibu Municipal Council (SMC) has started conducting Covid-19 testing on central market hawkers.
There are more than 1,200 hawkers in the central market but they are selected randomly by the Divisional Health Office for the Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) tests.
The testing is carried every Friday on 50 people each time. So far, 96 hawkers have completed the test which is paid for by the Health Ministry.
SMC Chairman Councillor Clarence Ting said the exercise was to ensure that all hawkers in the market are safe from the disease.
“SMC is keeping everyone safe by testing those who are at the central market as a precaution. I hope the public can also stay safe, by doing their part to stay safe for everyone else,” he said.
He urged residents to take this outbreak seriously following the second wave of the disease in Kuching area and Bintulu with 10 positive cases in one day. Of the 10 cases, some are imported caes while others are local transmission.
“I urge Sibu residents to take this outbreak seriously. This could easily happen in Sibu as well. We have many who are returning from other countries, there are crowded places everywhere. If you have plan to go out this weekend, don’t go to crowded places. Wear your face masks, observe social distancing, and keep your hand sanitized.,” he advised.
However he regretted that many residents were complacent by neglecting to put on face masks while in the town area.
“I have seen so many people neglecting to wear face masks in public. Remember that face mask is a known first line of defense against covid-19 spread. So heed, for your own personal safety, for your family safety, for your colleagues and friend safety,” he added.
He advised the people not to let their guard down, as “we don’t want to have an outbreak like Kuching here in Sibu.”
Sibu so far has nine positive cases but most of them are imported cases.—DayakDaily
