Selangor to prepare 200 ICU beds for COVID-19 patients

SHAH ALAM: The Selangor Health Department (JKNS) will increase the capacity of critical care or intensive care unit (ICU) beds to 200 for COVID-19 patients, in preparation for the possible sharp increase in COVID-19 cases in Selangor, compared with the 142 ICU beds currently available.

Its director, Datuk Dr Sha'ari Ngadiman, said that the move would be implemented by postponing elective surgery cases throughout the state to reduce dependence on ICU beds.

However, for non-COVID-19 cases that need to be treated immediately, JKNS will outsource to private facilities to ensure the ability to treat patients can continue.

Speaking at a special interview with Bernama and RTM here today, Dr Sha'ari said that the move could reduce congestion in the ICUs, which has currently reached 92 per cent in hospitals in Selangor.

"We welcome the announcement of the Movement Control Order (MCO), which will be imposed in six districts in Selangor, because previous experience has shown that there will be a reduction in the number of road accidents, which will cause operating rooms to be less used and indirectly the use of ICUs can also be saved," he said.

COVID-SELANGOR 2 (LAST) SHAH ALAM

Dr Shaari said the current spike in COVID-19 cases was largely contributed by cases of close contact from family members of COVID-19 patients, which was 90 per cent, while cases originating from schools and the industry sector each amounted to five per cent.

The current number of COVID-19 patients of category three and above is currently higher in the state than in the previous situation.

"This shows that the community's non-compliance with the standard operating procedures (SOPs) is very unsatisfactory, compared with factories where the majority now comply with the set SOPs," he said, adding that all parties need to play their respective roles in reducing the risk of infection.

On another matter, Dr Sha'ari said that, following the federal government's announcement yesterday on the implementation of the early warning system, Hotspots Identification for Dynamic Engagement (HIDE) starting tomorrow (May 7), Selangor had identified 25 localities in the six districts, based on the number of cases recorded within two weeks.

"We also plan that, after the Aidilfitri celebration, the vaccination exercise will be conducted through an outreach programme to at-risk groups in areas with a high number of COVID-19 cases, so that they are spared from complications if infected with COVID-19," he said.

Selangor yesterday reported the highest number of new daily cases compared with other states, at 675 cases, or 21.6 per cent of the total of 3,120 cases.

-- BERNAMA