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[PHOTOS] Fear, frustration in Klang as people flood Covid-19 assessment centres

Patients queue in 1km-long line at the sports hall here today, waiting anxiously to be processed

Updated 4 years ago · Published on 13 Jul 2021 9:00PM

[PHOTOS] Fear, frustration in Klang as people flood Covid-19 assessment centres
A woman calls for help as her relative faints from heat exhaustion at the Covid-19 assessment centre in Klang. – SAIRIEN NAFIS/The Vibes pic, July 13, 2021

by Isabelle Leong

KLANG – The increase in daily Covid-19 cases in Selangor has caused droves of patients to flood Covid-19 assessment centres (CACs), especially the one in Klang.

While the CACs serve to help assess those infected on quarantine procedures and treatments, a few centres set up in residential areas have invoked fear among those living there.

One of them is Klang Sports Hall in Taman Sri Andalas.

A survey by The Vibes shutterbug SAIRIEN NAFIS at the housing area found a long “Covid-19 queue” snaking around the neighbourhood leading up to the CAC.

Infected individuals were seen parking their vehicles outside houses before joining the long queue that stretched up to 1km.

Patients from all walks of life were seen waiting for their turns to be assessed, with some perched on cars and sitting on the curb of the road, visibly tired as they waited under the scorching sun since 9am this morning. 

The Vibes also spotted a few visitors experiencing difficulties in breathing and fainting at the location.

A mosque situated approximately 300m away from the hall has also been asked to close immediately following the setting-up of the CAC. 

Checks on social media platforms by The Vibes revealed that residents in the area are fearful that they too will be infected by those queuing up daily in front of their houses.

“Most of the residents here are elderly and can no longer take a breath of fresh air on the porch. That is their only source of entertainment during EMCO and they can’t even do that now.

“They are now cooped up at home because they are worried about their health.

“The government should also think of the mental health of residents here,” Mierz Qmanz wrote in a post on the Taman Sri Andalas Facebook group page.

According to a report by TV3 today, the Klang district health office has agreed to move the Klang Sports Hall CAC to another location.

The office admitted its mistake in not having discussions with Sg Kandis assemblyman Mohd Zawawi Ahmad Mughni and the residents before proposing to open the CAC.

The office has since requested for a grace period to find another suitable location.

Today, Malaysia recorded its highest ever number of new daily Covid-19 cases at 11,079, breaching the five-figure mark for the first time.

Selangor logged the highest number of cases again, at 5,263. – The Vibes, July 13, 2021

A man waits in line outside the Klang Sports Hall in Taman Sri Andalas, Klang. – SAIRIEN NAFIS/The Vibes pic, July 13, 2021
A man waits in line outside the Klang Sports Hall in Taman Sri Andalas, Klang. – SAIRIEN NAFIS/The Vibes pic, July 13, 2021
A mother and child wait in line. – SAIRIEN NAFIS/The Vibes pic, July 13, 2021
A mother and child wait in line. – SAIRIEN NAFIS/The Vibes pic, July 13, 2021
Infected individuals wait in line, in a long queue stretching up to 1km. – SAIRIEN NAFIS/The Vibes pic, July 13, 2021
Infected individuals wait in line, in a long queue stretching up to 1km. – SAIRIEN NAFIS/The Vibes pic, July 13, 2021
People sit by the roadside, visibly tired after waiting under the scorching sun since 9am this morning. – SAIRIEN NAFIS/The Vibes pic, July 13, 2021
People sit by the roadside, visibly tired after waiting under the scorching sun since 9am this morning. – SAIRIEN NAFIS/The Vibes pic, July 13, 2021
A man copes with the scorching heat under an umbrella as he sits on the curb. – SAIRIEN NAFIS/The Vibes pic, July 13, 2021
A man copes with the scorching heat under an umbrella as he sits on the curb. – SAIRIEN NAFIS/The Vibes pic, July 13, 2021
A frontliner ushers patients in, the snaking queue guided by metres of yellow tape. – SAIRIEN NAFIS/The Vibes pic, July 13, 2021
A frontliner ushers patients in, the snaking queue guided by metres of yellow tape. – SAIRIEN NAFIS/The Vibes pic, July 13, 2021
An elderly man rests in a chair as he struggles with the heat and fatigue. – SAIRIEN NAFIS/The Vibes pic, July 13, 2021
An elderly man rests in a chair as he struggles with the heat and fatigue. – SAIRIEN NAFIS/The Vibes pic, July 13, 2021
A frontliner at the Covid-19 assessment centre catches a breather in between patients. – SAIRIEN NAFIS/The Vibes pic, July 13, 2021
A frontliner at the Covid-19 assessment centre catches a breather in between patients. – SAIRIEN NAFIS/The Vibes pic, July 13, 2021
People waiting in beds to be assessed by frontliners. – SAIRIEN NAFIS/The Vibes pic, July 13, 2021
People waiting in beds to be assessed by frontliners. – SAIRIEN NAFIS/The Vibes pic, July 13, 2021
A woman being escorted to an ambulance by frontliners. – SAIRIEN NAFIS/The Vibes pic, July 13, 2021
A woman being escorted to an ambulance by frontliners. – SAIRIEN NAFIS/The Vibes pic, July 13, 2021
Families wait in line just outside the Klang Sports Hall. – SAIRIEN NAFIS/The Vibes pic, July 13, 2021
Families wait in line just outside the Klang Sports Hall. – SAIRIEN NAFIS/The Vibes pic, July 13, 2021

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