GEORGE TOWN – Consider using schools and hotels as low-risk Covid-19 quarantine and treatment centres, health frontliners tell Putrajaya after the country yesterday recorded a total of 136,992 infections and a death toll of 551.
It is learnt that officials have urged the Health Ministry to open up more of such centres as daily infections are in the four-digit territory.
Among the challenges is the cost involved and premises owners are open to the idea of allowing the ministry to use their properties.
Aside from sanitisation costs, there is a concern of social stigma attached to places used as quarantine facilities.
Self-quarantine for Covid-19 patients is said to be ineffective following a spate of violators who did not follow the standard operating procedures (SOPs).
Malaysian Medical Association president Prof Datuk Dr M. Subramaniam said Covid-19 patients have slipped through the cracks and went on to infect their communities, for example, those in Sarawak longhouses and Orang Asli settlements.
He said there is also much public anxiety on infected undocumented migrants because they would not come forward in the first place.
Malaysian Hotels Association chief executive officer Yap Lip Seng said there are discussions on whether the hotel operators would allow their hospitality facilities to be converted into low-risk Covid-19 centres.
“But it is not as easy as turning them into quarantine centres for travellers returning from overseas. Now that there is a limited number of such travellers, there is a need to devise new SOPs on this matter.
“It is not the question of isolation but also treating those placed in such places are Covid-19 positive.”
Yap said there is also a need to allot a budget to convert hotels into such low-risk centres.
Low-risk is defined as those who are not vulnerable, usually those below the ages of 50, for patients with mild or no symptoms, and do not have underlying conditions such as diabetes and heart ailments.
Meanwhile, Penang Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow said there are some quarters who have proposed schools and other institutions to be used as centres to treat patients.
He said Penang needs to establish more low-risk treatment and quarantine centres in view of the rising cases of late.
He added that the state will hold its crisis management meeting tomorrow following the scheduled announcement by Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin today.
The state is bracing for stricter form of movement controls with ban on inter-state travel and limited operating houses for commercial and industrial establishments. – The Vibes, January 11, 2021
