JOHOR BARU – The Johor Health Department will increase the capacity of the Covid-19 ward at Sultan Ismail Hospital (HSI) to 44 beds from the 28 beds currently.
Menteri Besar Datuk Hasni Mohammad, through a tweet, said the tent facility in front of the HSI Emergency and Trauma Department will also be improved.
“The capacity of the cluster hospitals in Mersing and Kota Tinggi will also be maximised,” he said after a Facebook user claimed that HSI lacks the capacity to accommodate Covid-19 patients, forcing patients to sleep in chairs in a tent.
On April 2 last year, HSI was reported to have set up an air-conditioned tent in front of the Emergency and Trauma Department to improve the Covid-19 screening centre.
The centre, which was dubbed “Covid-19 Camp”, was set up in an effort to reduce the risk of infection between hospital staff and patients.
Meanwhile, Tunku Mahkota of Johor Tunku Ismail Sultan Ibrahim summoned the Health Department’s director, Dr Aman Rabu, to the palace over the viral video claiming that HSI lacked the capacity to accommodate patients.
Through a Twitter post, the crown prince said he will obtain a more complete report and take appropriate action on the matter.
“I have summoned the Health Department’s director for an audience. Tomorrow (today), I will get a complete report to take the appropriate action,” he said.
Johor recorded 1,425 new cases yesterday, bringing total Covid-19 infections in the state to 109,337, with 1,303 deaths. – Bernama, August 15, 2021
