KOTA KINABALU – With Sabah’s soaring Covid-19 cases leaving hospitals overstretched, more facilities have been either expanded or identified to serve as treatment centres to ensure patients receive adequate attention, said the state health director.
Dr Christina Rundi yesterday said a number of health personnel have had to undergo quarantine after being exposed to the coronavirus through their colleagues, patients or people from red zones who are still awaiting their test results.
“Given the situation, the Sabah Health Department will take suitable actions to ensure that health services are not affected, such as transferring medical staff from other units and facilities that are not involved in treating Covid-19 patients.
“Screening is being actively conducted among close contacts of positive cases, those with symptoms, and those from red zones.”
The additional wards are located at Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Likas sports complex, Sabah Women and Children Hospital, Tuaran Intan campus, Kota Kinabalu Polytechnic, KB Rest House Kota Belud, Keningau Hospital, Keningau community hall, Tawau Hospital, ILKKIM Taway, Tawau youth arena hall, Tawau Prison, Tawau sports complex, Lahad Datu Hospital, Kinarut Excellence Corporation Traning Centre, Lahad Datu police headquarters, Lahad Datu Tun Haji Mustapha Hall, PPR Taman Seri Sepagaya Lahad Datu, Kunak arena hall, Semporna Hospital, PPR Bubul Ria Semporna, HDOK Sandakan, PPR Batu Putih Sandakan, Anjung Kasih Sandakan, Selagon hall in Beaufort, Kudat Hospital, Ranau sports complex hall and Kota Marudu Hospital.
The state recorded 277 new coronavirus cases yesterday, with the highest toll in Tawau (46), followed by Sandakan (41), Semporna (37), Tuaran (30), Kota Kinabalu (29), Kota Belud and Lahad Datu (both 26), Papar and Penampang (both 11), Kunak, Pitas and Putatan (4 each), Keningau (3), Kinabatangan (2), and Beluran, Kuala Penyu and Tenom (1 each).
Tawau’s total of 1,023 cases made it the first Sabah district to hit the four-figure tally.
Three virus deaths were also reported in the state yesterday, one each in Semporna, Tawau and Kota Kinabalu.
The state has registered a total of 3,842 infections, of which 2,380 are active cases. – The Vibes, October 11, 2020
