COVID: GKV STF frees up more beds in public, private hospitals

KUALA LUMPUR: The capacity of beds in public and private hospitals treating COVID-19 patients in the Greater Klang Valley (GKV) area will be increased by repurposing some areas in the hospital into patient wards.

GKV Special Task Force (GKV STF) commander Datuk Dr Chong Chee Kheong said this was in light of the current situation and spread of the pandemic in GKV encompassing Selangor, Kuala Lumpur and Negeri Sembilan.

He said another initiative, namely, outsourcing non-COVID-19 patients to private hospitals was also being done to further free up more beds in the hospitals for use by COVID-19 patients.

"The ambulance service is also upgraded with the co-operation of numerous agencies including the Malaysian Civil Defence Force, Fire and Rescue Department and non-government organisations (NGO) such as the Malaysian Red Crescent Society.

"In addition, home isolations and virtual monitorings by the COVID-19 Assessment Centres (CAC) are conducted for COVID-19 patients with mild or no symptom," he said in a statement today.

He said GKV STF is also working together with NGOs and volunteers in identifying and tracing close contacts.

To date in GKV, there are 29 public hospitals and 51 private hospitals as well as two Low Risk Treatment Centres (PKRC) including four full COVID-19 hospitals namely, Ampang, Selayang, Sungai Buloh and Serdang Hospitals.

-- BERNAMA