Hawkers from Sibu Central Market undergo random Covid-19 test.
SIBU: About 100 hawkers at Sibu Central Market have undergone random Covid-19 test, says Sibu Divisional health officer Dr Teh Jo Hun.
He said they represent five to 10 per cent of the 1,200 hawkers at the market.
“As there are about 1,200 hawkers, we can’t really test all of them. Yesterday (Friday) was the second random testing,” he said when contacted yesterday, adding that random testing will be done at other markets here too.
“Central market is the main focus for the time being as a large percentage of the population goes there,” he added.
He pointed out that Sibu Municipal Council (SMC) was assisting by providing the names of hawkers.
“This is instruction from Ministry of Health MOH, just like Sarawak government had asked us to test workers in construction and plantation sites randomly,” he explained.
Asked on advice to the public to prevent a second wave, he urged strictly adherence to standard operating procedures (SOP).
Meanwhile, Sibu Municipal Council (SMC) chairman Clarence Ting said hawkers at Central Market were being tested for Covid-19 as a precautionary measure with random testing done on Fridays.
Sibu Rural District Council (SRDC) chairman Sempurai Petrus Ngelai when contacted said they will get advice from Sibu Divisional Disaster Management Committee on the need for random testing at markets under its jurisdiction and urged everyone to observe SOPs and practise good personal hygiene.
Meanwhile, the State Disaster Management Committee (SDMC) would conduct random tests at markets as the state faces a second wave of Covid-19 infections.
Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas had said that random tests may also be conducted at childcare centres, schools and old folks’ homes.