BEDS at the Malaysia Agro Exposition Park (Maeps) Covid-19 quarantine and low-risk quarantine centre (PKRC) 2.0 in Serdang and hospitals in the Klang Valley are quickly filling up as a result of the rising number of Covid-19 cases, despite the government increasing capacity.

Health Minister Dr Adham Baba said all 154 beds allocated for Category 4 patients at Maeps 2.0 have been used up.

“The remaining beds for Categories 1,2 and 3 Covid-19 patients at Maeps PKRC 2.0 are also almost fully occupied.”

“According to the latest data, Maeps PKRC 2.0 receives an average of 800 Covid-19 patients a day, with an average of 200 Covid-19 patients in Category 4,” he said in a statement today.

Malaysia today reported 8,868 new Covid-19 cases, the second-highest number of daily cases logged to date. The country’s caseload is 808,658.

He said the ministry was increasing resources at these Covid-19 treatment centres to cope with the growing patient load.

“MOH has re-evaluated its existing strategy and identified the fast and responsive measures to be taken to step up preparations at hospitals in the Klang Valley and Maeps PKRC 2.0, which is seeing an increase in Category 4 and 5 patients,” he added.

The Malaysian Insight on June 25 reported that nearly 150 severely ill Covid-19 patients in Maeps PKRC 2.0 were in the queue for transfer to hospitals, which have run out of beds.

He said the ministry has also increased ICU beds in MOH and teaching hospitals.

This includes 20 ICU beds at Ampang Hospital, and eight ICU and 45 ward beds at the Universiti Putra Malaysia teaching hospital to accommodate Categories 4 and 5 patients from Maeps PKRC 2.0 to treat and save the lives of severely ill patients.

Apart from that, Hospital Tuanku Ampuan Rahimah (HTAR) in Klang, Selangor also received 60 additional beds and equipment worth RM1.1 million to increase the hospital’s capacity to accommodate more patients, especially those suffering from Covid-19.

A field hospital with 50 beds was also set up at the hospital in collaboration with the armed forces.

Yesterday, Klang MP Charles Santiago shared photos on social media, which showed patients lying on camp beds set up in the driveway of the HTAR’s emergency department entrance.

Adham added that the Tuanku Mizan Armed Forces Hospital in Wangsa Maju, Kuala Lumpur had also started receiving Categories 3 and 4 patients.

The Health Ministry has also mobilised 110 healthcare personnel comprising 75 medical officers, paramedics and drivers from Kedah, Perak and Terengganu, as well as 43 medical officers from Klang Valley hospitals to Maeps PKRC 2.0 for six months starting today.

A total of 1,550 oxygen cylinders were sent to Maeps PKRC 2.0 to ensure continuous supply at the centre.

The ministry has also decided to procure 300 units of oxygen concentrators.

Other measures taken include commencing operations at the MOH training centre in Sg Buloh, which has a capacity of 2,400 beds to house Categories 1 and 2 patients to free up space at Maeps PKRC 2.0 for Categories 3 and Category 4 patients.

Apart from that, volunteers from the Red Crescent Society have been enlisted to care for child patients whose parents are also being treated for Covid-19.

The ministry is also working with private medical practitioners and employers to set up Covid-19 Assessment Centres (CAC) and low-risk quarantine centres.

Adham added that despite the measures taken to manage the situation, prevention and containment measures should be undertaken on an individual and society level to curb the spread of the virus.

He reminded all quarters to continue to comply with the rules of the movement-control order (MCO), to stay at home and comply with the new normal at all times. – July 8, 2021.