The Intan cluster was declared on Nov 5 with nine positive cases, with the index case being a 30-year-old foreigner in Relau near Bayan Baru, who tested positive before leaving the country.

In a statement, Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow said the cluster, with the majority of patients being in the Mukim 13 subdistrict, ought to be placed under targeted enhanced movement control order (Temco).

“The Penang Health Department has been requested to carry out surveillance and to consider if a Temco ought to be implemented, with focus on certain localities there,” he said.

Mukim 13 in the Northeast district covers 3,280ha, with a population of about 271,000 people.

It comprises Bandar Baru Air Itam, Paya Terubong, Relau, Bukit Jambul Complex, Lip Sin Garden, Bayan Mutiara, Taman Bukit Gambir, Sungai Dua, Batu Uban, Kampung Sg Gelugor, Pulau Jerejak and a part of Universiti Sains Malaysia.

As of noon yesterday, there were 347 active cases in Penang, with 18 new cases, bringing the total number of cases to 1,360. There have been three deaths so far.

According to the state health department, there are currently seven active clusters — Penang Remand Prison, Seberang Perai Prison, Bayan, Tembaga, Permatang, Alma and Intan. There are 41 active cases in these clusters currently.

Chow said the state health department had also proposed that the Temco at the Penang and Seberang Perai prisons not be extended beyond Nov 11 and Nov 18 respectively.

“The National Security Council in Penang has also received a request from the state health department to allow private day-care centres to be operated during the conditional MCO (CMCO) so as to cater to the needs of parents working during the CMCO,” he said.