KOTA KINABALU – Former federal minister Datuk Seri Abdul Rahman Dahlan has given five suggestions to reduce overcrowding at Covid-19 assessment centres (CACs) in the country.
Rahman, in an Instagram post today, said the overall idea is to shift some responsibilities from CAC healthcare workers to private practice doctors.
“Firstly, doctors in private clinics and hospitals should be allowed to order the wearing of bracelets to asymptomatic patients, who are eligible to undergo self-isolation.
“They have already taken their swab tests. If (they are) found positive, the doctor should put on the bracelet on the spot.
“There is no need to overcrowd CACs so that staff can put on the bracelet. The government must have confidence in private doctors.”
His second suggestion is for private doctors to be allowed to remove the bracelets from patients who have completed their home quarantine, thus doing away with the need for the latter to be at CACs.
“There is also no need for the public to queue for hours to obtain health forms. It is more effective if they are able to download the forms from the Health Ministry’s website before going to CACs... (or) fill in the form via MySejahtera,” he said in raising his third point.
As for his fourth and fifth suggestions, the former Kota Belud MP listed early preparations and a number system, respectively, saying they should be implemented by the authorities before a CAC is set up within an area.
His comments come after The Vibes reported images and videos – which have since gone viral – of large crowds spilling out onto the streets at several CACs in Selangor.
An increase in daily Covid-19 cases in Selangor has caused droves of patients to flood CACs, especially in Klang.
While the centres serve to help assess infected individuals on quarantine procedures and treatments, those set up in housing areas have invoked fear among residents.
One of them is a sports hall CAC in Taman Sri Andalas, Klang, where infected individuals are seen parking their vehicles outside residential houses before joining the long queue that stretches up to 1km.
Patients from all walks of life are seen waiting for their turn to be assessed, with some perched on cars or sitting by the roadside, visibly tired as they wait under the scorching sun.
The Vibes also spotted a few visitors experiencing breathing difficulty and fainting at the location. – The Vibes, July 14, 2021
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