FOR the third day in a row, as the Covid-19 cases in Malaysia continued to spike, more people than ever were being admitted to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) in hospitals.

Currently there are 345 patients warded in ICUs nationwide, eight more than yesterday.

However, the number of people requiring respiratory support reduced by one from yesterday to 175.

Although there is a drop in those requiring respiratory support, the increase in ICU admissions would have an impact on ICU occupancy rate, which is close to its full capacity in the Klang Valley.

Earlier today, Healthy Ministry Director-General Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah said the ICU occupancy rate in the Klang Valley has reached 90% as of today.

He said a total of six hospitals with critical care beds and intensive care units (ICU) dedicated to treating Covid-19 patients were found to have exceeded the threshold, with bed capacity exceeding 70%.

The six are Sg Buloh Hospital, Kuala Lumpur hospital, Ampang hospital, Serdang hospital, Selayang hospital and Tengku Ampuan Rahimah hospital in Klang.

He said some of these hospitals are also reaching 100% bed capacity and ICU utilisation.

Meanwhile, he said Sg Buloh hospital, which is fully operational as a Covid-19 hospital, will increase its capacity of ICU beds in phases to meet the increasing need.

The Healthy Ministry had classified Covid-19 patients into five categories.

In Category One are patients with no symptoms, while in Category Two are those who are symptomatic without lung infections.

Category Three Covid-19 patients are positive cases with pneumonia.

Category 4 refers to patients with Covid-19 pneumonia requiring oxygen, whereas Category 5 refers to those who are critically ill with multi-organ failure.

The ministry is trying to help early detection and prompt treatment to prevent patients’ deterioration, especially those in Category 3 going in to Categories 4 and 5.

Just a day after recording less than 3,000 daily Covid-19 cases, Malaysia crossed the line again today by recording 3,418 fresh infections in the past 24-hours.

Twelve deaths were reported today, taking the total number of fatalities to 1,533. – May 2, 2021.