KUALA LUMPUR – At least two medical wards at Tengku Ampuan Rahimah Hospital (HTAR) and one operating theatre at Selayang Hospital have been closed due to Covid-19 outbreaks.
Sources told The Vibes that the sources of infections are patients who did not disclose their health status upon arrival, resulting in hospital staff contracting the disease.
“There were a lot of them (patients). And, they were not being truthful when they were hospitalised,” said a source.
Earlier today, Malaysiakini reported that up to 40 employees and more than 50 patients at HTAR have contracted Covid-19 in the last three weeks.
They have been transferred to Sg Buloh Hospital for treatment.
Asked about the matter, Health Director-General Tan Sri Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah told The Vibes that the government has discouraged people from visiting hospitals, so as to minimise the risk of infection.
“This has been implemented earlier, and as sporadic cases increase, we need to take all the necessary precautionary measures. It is already a pandemic.
“And, the virus is already in our community. Everyone must adhere strictly to the SOP. Both frontliners and the public,” he said via WhatsApp.
HTAR has 1,094 beds, and was last year allocated government funds to upgrade its wards and equipment.
Several Covid-19 cases were detected at the hospital in March, prompting it to limit visiting hours and bar children under 12 from visiting.
It was reported that Selangor health director Dr Sha’ari Ngadiman confirmed that Health Ministry officials attended a morning briefing on Covid-19 outbreaks at the said hospitals.
"I take note that there have been cases (involving staff and patients infected with Covid-19) there.
“This is why ministry officials were at the hospitals, to learn more about the issue. As such, I cannot give further comment.” – The Vibes, December 17, 2020
