AS COVID-19 cases breach the 15,000 mark daily, the Health Ministry announced that Selayang Hospital will be turned into full COVID-19 hospital, which is the fourth hospital to be redesignated so far.
“Non- COVID-19 patients at Selayang Hospital will be decanted to private hospital in the region to increase bed capacity for COVID-19 patients in Categories 3,4 and 5.
“Operation Selayang is already underway and should be completed within 48 hours, providing 450 beds for COVID-19 care,” said its deputy director-general (Public Health) Datuk Dr Chong Chee Kheong, in a statement.
Among some of the measures taken are ensuring predictable and uninterrupted supply of oxygen, life-saving medicine and other supplies to combat the pandemic.
“The focus will shift under the new system where symptomatic people will be prioritised for testing. All symptomatic cases will still be assessed, physically or virtually, at the COVID-19 Assessment Centres (CAC) or district health office.
“All positive cases who are asymptomatic will be undergoing home isolation for 10 days and report themselves using digital home assessment tools as such MySejahtera, e-COVID or Selangkah self-assessment tools,” he added.
Yesterday, FocusM quoted CodeBlue news portal claiming that at least 29 COVID-19 patients died on Aidiladha Day at the Ampang Hospital after oxygen pressure dropped, as the health facility was struggling to admit scores of critically ill COVID-19 patients requiring respiratory support.
According to its sources, Ampang Hospital’s record number of deaths on July 20 comes on top of 23 COVID-19 fatalities reported on July 16, making it 52 deaths in two days.
On related matter, Cheong said that asymptomatic close contacts will be encouraged to get their own COVID-19 rapid test kit either at the nearest clinic or self-test kits and isolate themselves at home.
“This will allow healthcare system in the region to focus on mitigation and deter late containment stage.
“After the self-test and home isolation policy, total cases may appear lower as it would no longer capture asymptomatic contacts. This will be off-set once self-test kits are made widely accessible to all,” he remarked. – July 24, 2021
