GEORGE TOWN: Covid-19 screening has begun for residents in Persiaran Paya Terubong flats in Relau and Flat Desa Bistari, Batu Uban, here, that are currently placed under lockdown.
Sources said hundreds of people would be selected and screened daily throughout the Enhanced Movement Control Order (EMCO) period.
Checks by the New Straits Times at both areas today showed nearly 200 people in each of the affected flats had their swab test taken before they were given either pink or white wristband to wear.
Only heads of households, who wears the white wristbands, are allowed out of their homes.
At the Flat Desa Bistari here, health workers were seen making their way into the area before the screening began at 9am, for both locals and foreign workers.
Checks showed food items were sent to the foreign workers there.
Meanwhile, at the Sri Aman market and food complex in Paya Terubong here, strict standard operating procedure (SOP) was observed by all market-goers.
Policemen were also heard reprimanding patrons who brought along their children to the area.
Several traders were seen waiting at the roadblock to hand over pre-ordered cooking items to customers.
Northeast district police chief Assistant Commissioner Soffian Santong told the NST the EMCO's implementation was running smoothly.
"Even though there are still people who are confused about the SOP, we manage to explain to them."
Soffian also said police were liaising with the district health office to determine how many foreigners had run away from the EMCO area, two days before its implementation.
"We are still working with the district health office to figure it out."
On Sunday, Soffian had warned action would be taken against foreign workers who fled from their residence in Flat Desa Bistari.
On Saturday, Senior Minister (Security Cluster) Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob announced that the Conditional Movement Control Order (CMCO) would be lifted as scheduled in Penang yesterday, except for areas still categorised as red zones.
He said the CMCO would be extended from yesterday to Dec 20 at Mukim 12 in the southwest district and Mukim 13 in the northeast district.
The EMCO involved 12,300 residents. Of the total, some 10,000 were from the flats in Persiaran Paya Terubong and the remaining 2,300 from Flat Desa Bistari.