In a statement, the state health department said patients with follow-ups at the clinics will be referred to other health clinics in the state.

“The outpatient clinic will be turned into an observation and early treatment ward for Covid-19 patients.

“This is due to a sharp increase in Covid-19 cases at the emergency and trauma department and increased admissions at the hospital,” it said.

The Penang Hospital is the main Covid-19 hospital in the state.

There have been 7,922 Covid-19 cases registered in the state over the past two weeks, with 4,182 active cases as of yesterday, the Penang health department data show.

Penang recorded 667 new cases over the last 24 hours and the death toll as of yesterday was at 191.

Seberang Perai Central district remains the highest infected area in the state with 2,796 cases over the past two weeks, with a large chunk of the cases appearing to be concentrated near Perai and Juru.

Butterworth also saw a big jump in cases with 235 cases in the past two weeks, while the Seberang Perai North district, in general, saw the biggest jump in cases in the state with 229 new cases as of yesterday.

On the island, Mukim 13 – which includes Bandar Baru Air Itam, Paya Terubong and Relau – recorded the highest Covid-19 numbers at 384 cases over the past two weeks, followed by George Town’s 238, Jelutong’s 181 and Air Itam’s 68.

The Mukim 12 subdistrict (greater Bayan Baru area), where the Bayan Lepas Free Industrial Zone is located, recorded 435 cases in the past two weeks, while neighbouring Mukim 11 (Teluk Kumbar) saw 88 cases in the same period.

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