KOTA BARU – The locations for two new Covid-19 quarantine and low-risk treatment centres have been identified in Kelantan, as daily virus cases are still trending upwards in the state.
State Crisis Preparedness and Response Centre (CPRC) director Dr Mohd Azman Yacob said the centres will be at the National Department for Culture and Arts hall and Queenspark Sportscity, both in this district.
He said the need to open the centres is because the 11 existing ones in the state have already reached an occupancy rate of between 90% and 97%.
“The two new locations identified may be used as high-capacity centres, but several things have to be checked in terms of infrastructural facilities, including toilets, air-conditioning and others.
“In fact, the comfort of patients and safety of personnel on duty must be given priority in the setting up of the centres. We cannot take these aspects lightly.”
Dr Azman said the rising need for more such centres in the state is because the state lacks high-capacity buildings to house a large number of Covid-19 patients.
“To date, the biggest centre that is capable of accommodating a large number of patients is the Universiti Sains Malaysia Health Campus in Kubang Kerian, which can accomodate 464 patients at a time.”
He said Kelantan CPRC does not rule out the possibility of adding 30 more beds at the Gelanggang Seni Cultural Centre in the near future to house Covid-19 patients in Categories 3 and above.
“This is because the usage of intensive care unit beds at the Raja Perempuan Zainab II Hospital has reached more than 95%, in fact, at times, up to 100%.
“I would also like to advise the public, especially the people of Kelantan, to not only comply with the new normal standard operating procedures, but also assimilate it.”
Kelantan recorded 613 new Covid-19 cases yesterday, with 53 active clusters. – Bernama, May 23, 2021
